Latest news with #MaxKranick
New York Post
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Max Kranick hits injured list with elbow strain in latest Mets pitching blow
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free ATLANTA — Max Kranick is the latest member of the Mets' pitching staff with right-elbow concern. The reliever was placed on the injured list Thursday with a strain in the elbow and returned to New York for an MRI exam. Advertisement Earlier this week, Tylor Megill was placed on the IL with inflammation in his elbow. Kranick appeared in two games last weekend following his recall from Triple-A Syracuse. The right-hander has pitched to a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances for the club. Max Kranick throws a pitch during a May 25 game for the Mets. Jason Szenes for the NY Post Advertisement Dedniel Núñez and Justin Hagenman were recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Ty Adcock was optioned to create the second roster spot. Kranick had soreness, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, following his Sunday appearance, but the team gave him extra time to see if he would recover. Advertisement He still had discomfort after receiving treatment, playing catch and throwing from a mound Wednesday. 'It's very similar to what Megill experienced on the secondary pitches,' Mendoza said before the Mets' 7-1 loss to the Braves. Núñez had five appearances in his first stint with the Mets this season and pitched to a 7.36 ERA. Advertisement The right-hander was a key piece of the Mets' bullpen in the second half last season. Mendoza said Núñez had shown recent improvement with his control. 'Especially the strike-throwing ability, attacking hitters and that is what he is,' Mendoza said. 'He's a guy that when he gets ahead and he's able to use that slider and the secondary pitches, we felt like the last couple of outings he did that so he's getting another chance. We all know how important how important he was for our bullpen last year and we're hoping we can unlock some of that at this level.' Max Kranick reacts after getting out of an inning during his April 23 appearance. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post Hagenman was needed in relief on this night and pitched 2 ²/₃ innings of scoreless relief to help preserve the bullpen. But his usage removed him from Friday's mix: He was likely to pitch behind an opener in Philadelphia. The Mets will instead recall Blade Tidwell from Triple-A Syracuse for the start. Advertisement Tidwell, 23, made his major league debut last month in a spot start against the Cardinals. He allowed six earned runs over 3 ²/₃ innings. Advertisement Brett Baty was progressing after two straight days of unavailability, according to Mendoza, as he remained absent from the starting lineup. Baty left Sunday's game with right groin discomfort.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thin Mets rotation could receive help from Hagenman on Friday and Montas debut may soon follow
New York Mets pitcher Max Kranick throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) FILE - Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas throws during the first inning of Game 2 of a National League wild card baseball game against the New York Mets, Oct. 2, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, file) FILE - Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas throws during the first inning of Game 2 of a National League wild card baseball game against the New York Mets, Oct. 2, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, file) New York Mets pitcher Max Kranick throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) FILE - Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas throws during the first inning of Game 2 of a National League wild card baseball game against the New York Mets, Oct. 2, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, file) ATLANTA (AP) — A depleted New York Mets' rotation could see right-hander Justin Hagenman make his first start of the season on Friday at Philadelphia. Perhaps of more significance, the Mets debut for right-hander Frankie Montas could soon follow. Advertisement The Mets on Thursday recalled Hagenman and right-handed reliever Dedniel Núñez from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned right-hander Ty Adcock to Syracuse. Right-hander Max Kranick was also placed on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain. Hagenman, who gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings in his only appearance for the Mets this season, was with the team for Thursday night's game at Atlanta. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Hagenman could pitch on Friday, either as a starter or in bulk relief behind an opener. Mendoza said Montas, who was placed on the IL with a strained right late on March 24, also may be ready to join the rotation despite allowing eight homers and posting a 12.05 ERA in six minor league rehab games. Montas allowed 30 hits in 18 2/3 innings in his series of rocky rehab outings. 'I mean, I'm not going to lie, you know, he got hit,' Mendoza said of Montas. 'He got hit around, you know? But look, we seen it before where guys in spring training struggle and they get hit around. And once you put him on a big league game under the lights and your game plan, and you make adjustments and they flip the switch. He's had success before at this level.' Advertisement Montas, 32, signed a $34 million, two-year contract with the Mets in December. Montas missed most of the 2023 season because of shoulder surgery. He was 3-3 with a 4.53 ERA in 11 starts for Milwaukee in 2024. The Mets' rotation needs help. Right-hander Tylor Megill was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right elbow sprain and will miss at least one month. Last week, right-hander Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Mendoza said Kranick, who had a 3.65 ERA, returned to New York on Thursday for an MRI after having continued discomfort in his elbow on Wednesday when he played catch and then tried to throw from the mound. Kranick, 27, was recalled from Syracuse on June 13. Advertisement The Mets took a five-game losing streak into Thursday night's game. Mendoza said he was encouraged by the progress of third baseman Brett Baty, who missed the first two games of the series with a groin injury. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets reliever Paul Blackburn, who struggled Friday, will start next for injured Kodai Senga
NEW YORK — Paul Blackburn sat helplessly on the top of the bench in the Mets dugout after allowing a pair of Rays runs to score and only recording one out in the top of the sixth. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had called upon Blackburn with the Mets holding a four-run lead entering the frame, but the veteran righty, who was making his third appearance since returning from the injured list, had his roughest outing of the season. Advertisement Blackburn gave up four earned runs on four hits and Max Kranick allowed a pair of runs on a two-run home run as the Mets saw a four-run lead evaporate in the sixth inning of a 7-5 loss to the Rays in front of 41,622 fans on Friday night at Citi Field. "It's been tough," Blackburn said of getting reacclimated to a bullpen role. "It's completely different routines, I just haven't found a routine for the bullpen. It's a lot of trial and error when you go there. I haven't really been down there a long time, so I think it's just a lot of trial and error." With one miserable frame, the Mets saw their six-game win streak snapped by the Rays as their record moved to 45-25. The Mets offense stormed out of the gate with five runs between the fourth and fifth innings but could not cash in on some other big opportunities. They finished 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position on the night. Paul Blackburn, Max Kranick struggle Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen (19) celebrates with center fielder Kameron Misner (26) after hitting a two run home run during the sixth inning against the New York Mets on June 13, 2025, at Citi Field. Before the game, Mendoza announced that Blackburn would draw Wednesday's start against the Braves following Kodai Senga's right hamstring injury, which was deemed a Grade 1 strain. Advertisement Blackburn had not pitched since a four-inning, 71-pitch relief appearance on June 8, and Mendoza wanted to make sure he saw some game action before the start. But it did not go as planned. Blackburn entered for Clay Holmes after five innings but gave up a trio of hard-hit singles, including a two-run single to Jake Magnum, and an infield single to Yandy Diaz. He exited with a pair of runners stationed on the corners and both would come across to score against Max Kranick. "I feel like, especially the secondary pitches on Blackburn, everything was up in the zone," Mendoza said. "The changeup was kind of flat today. The sinker didn't have much movement. I think, overall, he left a lot of pitches up in the zone." Advertisement Blackburn, who tossed a scoreless five innings in his lone start of the season against the Dodgers on June 2, will now have another opportunity to take the ball in the first inning. He has allowed seven earned runs in 4⅓ relief innings. Kranick, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move with Senga placed on the IL, gave up an RBI single to Kameron Misner and then a two-run home run to Danny Jansen on a hanging slider that moved the Rays ahead 7-5 in the top of the sixth inning. Kranicks sustained his second loss of the season. Mets cautious with Clay Holmes after Colorado New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 13, 2025, at Citi Field. Mendoza's move to take Holmes out of the game after five innings was initially curious. Advertisement In five innings, Clay Holmes only gave up one run on a solo home run to Jonathan Aranda. He exited after throwing 79 pitches - his second-fewest in a start this season - and allowing three hits and two walks. The Mets intended on keeping Holmes' pitch count under 85 after his latest six-inning outing in the physically taxing thin air of Denver. Holmes said he was probably a little more sore than usual after tossing 95 pitches to pick up his seventh win after allowing one earned run. "As a competitor, you always want to be out there but you trust that they're making the right decisions," Holmes said. "I think the thought process was really good and they've done a lot of things right so far this year, so just trysting that. I think coming out of this, it's going to give me a boost going forward." Holmes said his arsenal did not feel as crisp as usual but feels like he's in a good spot to build on the start. He labored through a 23-pitch fourth inning, which included the home run and a walk to Taylor Wells before back-to-back strikeouts to Jake Mangum and Jose Caballero, and drove his pitch count up. Starling Marte's spark snuffed out New York Mets designated hitter Starling Marte (6) reacts after an RBI single during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 13, 2025, at Citi Field. The appearance of Starling Marte in the Mets' lineup could have been questioned by some against the right-handed Taj Bradley. Advertisement Mendoza elected to give Brett Baty an off day, plugging in the switch-hitting Ronny Mauricio, who was out of the lineup on Thursday, at third base and opening up a DH day for Marte. That move paid off for Marte, who came through twice with the bases loaded for the Mets. Marte knocked an RBI single off the foot of Bradley in the fourth inning and then lined a two-run single through the left side off former Mets reliever Eric Orze to build the Mets' lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Marte's three RBI were a season high as he finished 3-for-5. "Really good at-bats against right-handed pitching - three bullets," Mendoza said. "... I feel like offensively, he's in a really good place right now. " Advertisement But the Mets could not come through after their lead was relinquished Marte came up with a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh but struck out on a changeup. The Mets later loaded the bases in the inning but Mauricio flew out to left Mets missed another opportunity in the top of the eighth inning as Francisco Alvarez drove a ball deep to right-center field that was dropped by Misner. But Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo struck out in back-to-back at-bats and Juan Soto lined out to right field. The Mets had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth against Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, but Baty grounded out and Mauricio struck out looking. "Baty hit it right at the third baseman and then they executed against Mauricio in the ninth inning," Mendoza said. "Three breaking balls were pretty nasty against a good closer." This article originally appeared on Paul Blackburn, who struggled vs Rays, gets Mets' next start for injured Kodai Senga
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Juan Soto's bullpen visits: Sunflower seeds and scouting reports
NEW YORK — Juan Soto, honorary member of the New York Mets bullpen? 'Hey, at this point,' Mets reliever Ryne Stanek said, smiling, 'he comes by so often that we might as well give him that title.' Soto, the superstar right fielder, visits the Mets' bullpen before games, between pitching changes — really, anytime there's a break in the action that allows him an opportunity to pop in. Advertisement It's not completely unusual for a right fielder to linger by the wall near where the relievers reside or stop in the bullpen for a quick hello or sip of a drink. But Soto is different. He visits all the time. 'He does it way more than others,' said Stanek, who is in his ninth major-league season. 'We love it.' Added Mets reliever Max Kranick, 'We look forward to his visits.' Earlier this season, Soto referred to the relievers as 'his guys.' Why wouldn't he visit with them, he wonders. Sometimes, it's just laughs and light conversation. A lot of the time, though, Soto heads to his bullpen buddies seeking information. The visits took off at the start of the season when the Mets began playing games at Citi Field. 'The conversation that we got with him, it's been amazing,' bullpen coach Jose Rosado said. When Soto drops by the bullpen, he might be looking for advice on a few topics. Sometimes, he wants to know what Rosado thinks an opposing reliever might throw to left-handed batters. Other times, he wants to know a Mets reliever's approach against a certain batter so he can position himself defensively. And every once in a while, Soto will ask Rosado for tips on throwing mechanics, wanting more carry on his throws from right field. 'He wants to have that step ahead,' Rosado said, 'on everything.' The relievers and Rosado expect Soto's visits. juan soto born to be a relief pitcher who hangs out in the bullpen most of the game, forced to be a generational hitter — dianna (@runwildkian) May 6, 2025 'I try to get the information before he even asks now,' Rosado said. 'It's been great.' Rosado is prepared for Soto before the first pitch. In the first inning of games, Rosado stands by the fence separating the bullpen area from right field, awaiting Soto with a fistful of sunflower seeds. When Soto walks over, Rosado gives him a handful. Advertisement From there, Soto jogs out to his position and places the seeds where the defensive card tells him to stand as a marker. 'I'm ready as soon as the game starts,' Rosado said. 'I know to already have the sunflower seeds. He asked me the first game for sunflower seeds. I was like, 'You know you have plenty in the dugout — what's going on?' But then I saw him go back to his position, lay them down. I noticed it right away. It's pretty cool. Little things that I know he likes to do.' After getting seeds, Soto wants scouting reports. During a pitching change in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Soto asked Mets lefty reliever A.J. Minter how lefties should pitch against him. The next day, Minter looked at some video and numbers on how Phillies lefty reliever Matt Strahm might pitch to Soto. Minter then offered his input. 'This is what I think he is going to do,' Minter told Soto. Soto responded, 'I think the same thing.' Minter laughed when he said what happened next. 'In the at-bat against Soto, Strahm did the exact opposite of what I said,' Minter said. 'I felt so bad.' Soto never held it against him. It didn't stop him from continuing to ask questions. 'He's such a competitor,' Minter said. 'You can see he is trying so hard. It's great to be teammates with him. I've told him, 'If I'm going to pitch against you, you know the strike zone so well — I know I'm attacking you.' So I tell him, 'Be ready for that first pitch, be ready off the jump.' But we just all love talking with him.' The talks don't always involve swapping information and seeking an edge. Stanek suggested that Soto may just want to lay low sometimes and the bullpen is a good for that. Sometimes, the relievers said, a fun conversation just evolves during a Soto visit. They call him 'chill,' 'calm' and 'confident.' Advertisement 'It's been cool to see his personality come out more now,' Kranick said. Added Stanek: 'You see it from people on social media or whatever saying whether he likes it here or not. I think he loves it here. He's been a great teammate.' It's common for Soto, in the first year of a $765 million deal, to quietly approach the Mets' relievers with questions. Are you ready today? How are you going to match up against this hitter? Relievers can sometimes feel isolated from the rest of the team. They're not in the dugout. They're by themselves, in the bullpen. They say Soto helps bring another element of connectedness. And they appreciate that effort. For Soto, his visits to the bullpen are helpful. That's also true for the relievers. 'In the beginning, I was like, 'Man, I gotta get him out of here so he can focus on the game,'' Rosado said. 'But it's the questions that he asks. It's perfect. He wants to know everything. So we're thinking. We have to bring the A-game every time.'
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets' confidence booming with MLB's best bullpen: ‘It's contagious'
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Here is how the Mets' bullpen beat the Phillies: Monday: an escape from Reed Garrett, length from Max Kranick, an exhale from Edwin Díaz; Advertisement Tuesday: shutdown innings from Huascar Brazobán, A.J. Minter, Ryne Stanek and José Buttó; Wednesday: solid work from Brazobán, lefty-on-lefty excellence from Danny Young, a Buttó survival, a Díaz concern and Kranick guts. Eight different relievers combined to allow a total of four earned runs — three of which came on a homer Diaz served up — and each fulfilled a role. The Mets' bullpen has been its greatest strength through this 18-7 season-opening sprint, and not because a few dominant relievers have been leaned on heavily. The same exact group that broke camp with the team remains and has thrived in part because of its depth. Advertisement 3 Reed Garrett celebrates after the sixth inning during the Mets' win over the Phillies on April 21, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST 'The eight of them are getting huge outs for us,' manager Carlos Mendoza said after finishing off the sweep Wednesday at Citi Field. 'They know, they understand, when we call their names it's because we feel good about their chances of getting three outs. It doesn't matter whether we're up one in the seventh or in the ninth or whether we're down three — their job is to come in and attack and get the three outs we're asking them to do. 'I've been saying it: It's contagious.' Advertisement The bug has spread throughout a group that entered Thursday's off day as the most valuable bullpen in the majors, according to FanGraphs; that owned a 2.35 ERA that was second-best; that had eaten 95 ⅔ innings, the fourth-most; that had given up just four home runs, the least in MLB; that owned a third-best 1.03 WHIP and held opposing batters to a .192 average that was the sixth lowest. There eventually will be turnover — Dedniel Núñez, for one, is looming at Triple-A Syracuse — but there has been stability because each arm has produced and the workload has been distributed well. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS Entering Thursday, the Mets had used a pitcher on consecutive days nine times this season, tied for the second-least in the majors (before only the Yankees' eight). The Mets have not had to push their arms into many uncomfortable situations — and when those few situations have arisen, the arms have responded. Advertisement The Phillies provided several tests. On Monday, Garrett entered the sixth inning with Bryce Harper on first base and ensured Harper was stranded. After the inning-ending strikeout of J.T. Realmuto, Garrett became the only pitcher in the majors to inherit nine runners and not allow any to score. 'If we're in a sticky situation,' Pete Alonso said of the relievers, 'they're doing their jobs.' 3 Max Kranick throws in the seventh inning of the Mets' win over the Phillies on April 21, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Later in the game, Mendoza asked Kranick — excellent in the early going as a multi-inning weapon — for a third inning of work, which resulted in three straight hits and Díaz emerging to both scare (allowing a Bryson Stott homer) and escape (two straight strikeouts to end it). Tuesday, Mendoza turned to typical-length-option Brazobán (1.17 ERA) for a single frame, used Minter (1.74 ERA) for the pocket of the lineup featuring Bryce Harper, turned to Stanek (0.96 ERA) to get the heart of the order and, with the lead padded, trusted Buttó (2.51 ERA) to get the last three outs. Wednesday could have been the breaking point because Mendoza wanted to stay away from Kranick, Garrett and Minter. Brazobán and Buttó worked on consecutive days, and Young turned in the best performance of his season by forcing Harper to chase for a strikeout and entering the strike zone against Kyle Schwarber, who stared at strike three. 'He got the job done,' Mendoza said of Young, who has been a relative weak spot but whose sweeper in particular has been untouchable. Advertisement 3 Danny Young throws a pitch in the seventh inning during the Mets' win over the Cardinals on April 20, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Díaz pitched a perfect ninth and returned for the 10th. He lasted six pitches before what was believed to be a hip cramp forced him out, and Mendoza had no choice but to turn to a pitcher who burned 36 pitches two days prior. Advertisement Kranick probably needed more time to warm up, quickly walking Realmuto, but navigated out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing two fly outs. 'When somebody gets hurt, you got to warm up on the mound — I think that's the toughest thing to do as a reliever,' Díaz said. 'Today was definitely a little bit different,' Kranick said after completing that tough job for a Mets bullpen that has been the strongest unit on what has been baseball's best team thus far.
