Mets Explore All Pitching Options Amid Injury Crisis

The New York Mets, who began the 2025 season with one of the best pitching staffs in MLB, have faced a significant downturn due to multiple injuries to key starters including Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn, and Sean Manaea. President of baseball operations David Stearns acknowledged the challenges, noting that while reinforcements like Manaea and Senga are expected to return before the All-Star break, the rotation remains severely depleted in the short term. Stearns emphasized that all options are on the table, including using bullpen games, calling up additional starters from the minors, or seeking external help, but he prefers not to rush top pitching prospects into spot starts to protect their development and service time. Instead, the Mets have relied on lower-tier AAA pitchers and journeymen to fill innings, accepting a temporary drop in potency. Despite a recent 4-14 slide and loss of first place in the NL East, the team is cautiously optimistic about recovering once their top pitchers return. Manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned ongoing rehab assignments and the possibility of reliever Dedniel Nunez needing Tommy John surgery, highlighting the broader injury concerns within the pitching staff.