Marcus Stroman perhaps wasn’t himself in his last start, following the death of his grandmother, but the Mets are hopeful he’s in a better spot mentally following a break.
The right-hander is scheduled to receive the ball against the Yankees on Sunday in Game 1 of a split doubleheader. He was removed from the bereavement list Friday, after four days away from the Mets. Stroman worked out at Yankee Stadium before Friday’s scheduled game against the Yankees was postponed by rain, and he also threw a side session during his bereavement period, according to manager Luis Rojas.
In his start against the Phillies last Sunday, just days after his grandmother’s passing, Stroman allowed four runs, two of which were unearned, over three innings. Overall, the right-hander is 6-6 with a 2.45 ERA.
Stroman will be pitching in his first Subway Series — he was acquired by the Mets in July 2019 after that season’s games against the Yankees were complete and last year he opted out, missing the entire season.
Taijuan Walker, whose Friday start was rained out, is scheduled to pitch Saturday for the Mets. Tylor Megill is scheduled for Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader.
David Peterson, as expected, was placed on the injured list with right side soreness — a day after he was ruled out from taking his next turn in the rotation. Rojas said the team was awaiting further test results on Peterson. The manager was not prepared to name a starting pitcher for Monday against the Brewers, but previously mentioned Corey Oswalt as a possibility.
Michael Conforto was scheduled for the night off, even before the postponement, for load management. The outfielder was also on the bench for Monday’s game against the Nationals.
Rojas cited the fact Conforto spent only a week in his rehab assignment at Syracuse as a reason for wanting to get him the rest. Conforto spent five weeks on the IL after straining his right hamstring.
“We are ramping up his baseball activity after being down with a hamstring injury for a while,” Rojas said.
Jeurys Familia and Tomas Nido were both removed from the IL, along with Brandon Nimmo. To create roster space, Travis Blankenhorn, Thomas Szapucki and Patrick Mazeika were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Jonathan Villar was scheduled Friday to play nine innings for Syracuse — his last hurdle before returning to the team, according to Rojas — but the game was rained out. The infielder has been sidelined for the past two weeks after sustaining a right calf strain.
The Mets acquired left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda in a trade with the Giants for minor league third baseman Will Toffey. Banda was assigned to Syracuse.
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