#Walker Lockett set for crack at Mets’ rotation vacancy
“#Walker Lockett set for crack at Mets’ rotation vacancy”
August 12, 2020 | 12:45am
The right-hander was removed from the injured list Tuesday and added to the bullpen for at least one night (he didn’t pitch in the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Nationals), but team brass has bigger plans: He is the front-runner to take Michael Wacha’s turn in the rotation Wednesday.
Wacha was recently placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation and Marcus Stroman’s subsequent decision to opt out from the season before completing his injury rehab, has left the Mets with that need.
Lockett, 26, went 1-4 with an 8.84 ERA in 13 appearances last season with the Mets. He spent summer camp sidelined with lower-back stiffness.
The right-hander has recently added a cutter, according to manager Luis Rojas.
“He’s a contact pitcher — a guy that can induce some contact so can get through a lineup with fewer pitches,” Rojas said. “And adding the cutter, which can be another contact pitch for him, is just adding more to the pitcher he is.”
Brandon Nimmo will likely begin playing deeper in center field, according to Rojas, to get a better route on fly balls. Nimmo has been playing 315-317 feet from home plate and Rojas, the team’s former outfield coach, would like to see him in the 325-327 range.
Nimmo has looked overmatched at the position at times. He shifted to left field Tuesday with Billy Hamilton in the lineup in center.
“Some of the adjustments we can start making and then obviously the drills and different stuff we do, reaction off the bat,” Rojas said. “We have to keep doing just to get the guys into that mode where they get the better reads off the bat.”
Amed Rosario did not play as he battled a stomach bug, according to Rojas. He was available off the bench.
Pete Alonso was on the bench for his first missed start of the season. Alonso pinch hit in the seventh inning and was retired.
Robinson Cano was at Citi Field for a workout in which he planned to test his legs. The veteran second baseman, who is on the injured list with a strained left groin, is eligible for a return to the team on Friday.
Jake Marisnick played three innings in center field Monday during a game at the team’s alternate workout site in Brooklyn and took at-bats, according to Rojas. The veteran outfielder is rehabbing from a strained left hamstring.
Paul Sewald was designated for assignment and Ali Sanchez optioned to the alternate site to clear roster space for Lockett and Brad Brach.
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