Brandon Nimmo returns to Mets' lineup after shoulder injury scare
Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo looks on during the second inning of a game against the Orioles on Tuesday at Citi Field. Credit: Noah K. Murray
Brandon Nimmo didn’t have to wait long to be back on the field after injuring his shoulder Sunday.
Nimmo was in the Mets’ lineup Tuesday, batting third for the second of a three game-set with the Orioles at Citi Field. The leftfielder sat out Monday’s 4-3 win but was cleared to return after being evaluated early Tuesday morning.
“[Nimmo] came in early, went through a series of tests, went out there, played catch, felt good,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The last one was swinging the bat. Went in the cages and went through his full routine. It felt good.”
It was a 180-degree turn from 24 hours earlier when Nimmo, who was hurt making a diving catch against the Marlins, didn’t swing or throw while waiting for the results of an MRI. Once those results came back clean, Mendoza said Monday that Nimmo was day-to-day.
It’s another boost for a Mets team at the beginning of a tough 10-game stretch. Monday’s win over the Orioles came despite the Mets giving back a three-run lead and striking out 14 times.
Nimmo watched it unfold in the dugout as a spectator. But on Tuesday, he returned, bat in hand as the Mets continue their push for a wild-card spot.
“Dodged a bullet. To have the MRI confirm that makes me really happy,” Nimmo said Monday.
Scott ramps up
Christian Scott is getting closer to throwing off the mound again as he ramps up his rehab.
Mendoza said the rookie righthander threw off flat ground at 105 feet Tuesday. It’s an improvement from throwing at 75 feet just a week ago.
Scott was placed on the injured list July 23 with a UCL sprain in his right elbow.
“[His] intensity continued to increase,” Mendoza said. “So yeah, we got to build him up to 115, 120 [feet] before he gets on the mound. But the intensity today while he was playing catch, he was a lot better and he’s feeling good.”
It’s no guarantee that Scott will return soon. Last week, he didn’t set a firm timeline, but said he hoped he’d be back at some point.
The Mets surely would welcome him, yet they won’t rush him back either. Scott, who is 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA, had UCL issues last season in the minors and missed 3 1/2 weeks.
There’s also the chance of further injury, which could increase the possibility of Tommy John surgery and likely wipe out his entire 2025 season.
For now, the cautious optimism is slowly bubbling as Scott’s throwing continues to expand.
Day off for Marte
While Nimmo was in the lineup Tuesday, Starling Marte was not.
Marte was given the day off just two games into his return from a right knee bone bruise. Mendoza said it was just precautionary to monitor the 35-year-old’s workload, not the result of re-aggravating the injury.
“I said it since the beginning that he was going to be a big part [of the team],” Mendoza said. “But there was going to be times where I was going to give him days off, come out of games earlier. You just have to manage it and got to get into it.”
Marte had been out since June 22 before playing Sunday.
The Mets are exercising caution after Marte played just 86 games last season. That was his fewest in a season - not counting the abbreviated 2020 campaign due to COVID-19 - since playing 77 games in 2017.
Marte is expected to play Wednesday in the series-finale with the Orioles. It’ll also create a good problem for the Mets - too many outfielders, not enough playing time.
Tyrone Taylor started Tuesday in centerfield in place of Harrison Bader. Bader has manned center most of the season. For Mendoza, it’ll be a matter of matchups, but it’s also being glad to have a wealth of options instead of a dearth.
“They’re all gonna get their chances and opportunities,” Mendoza said. “It’ll be a rotation, matchup-based. They understand where we’re at. Performance obviously matters and I have these conversations with all of them. But there’s a lot of flexibility there where I can mix and match and give guys days off.”
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
