The Mets selected left-hander Joey Lucchesi between games of today’s double-header. He is the starter for the second game of the twin bill against Atlanta with left-hander Alex Young optioned in a corresponding active roster move. Tim Britton of The Athletic was among those to relay the news on X. The Mets transferred right-hander Christian Scott to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot, per Mike Puma of The New York Post on X.
The Mets and Atlanta came into today’s double-header effectively in a three-way tie with the Diamondbacks. Each of the two clubs playing today only needed to win one game in order to clinch a playoff spot. The Mets won a thriller in the first game, emerging victorious 8-7. They had planned to start Luis Severino in the second game if they still needed to win but will instead hold him back for the Wild Card round tomorrow.
Lucchesi, 31, will get the ball instead. The lefty has been with the Mets since January of 2021, coming over from the Padres in the three-team mega trade that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego, David Bednar to Pittsburgh and more. The southpaw required Tommy John surgery that summer, which resulted in him missing most of 2022. He has largely been used as optionable depth since then.
This year, his big league results prior to today consisted of just one spot start. He tossed 4 1/3 innings against the Phillies on May 15, allowing five earned runs. He was optioned back to the minors after that outing and later designated for assignment when the Mets acquired Phil Maton in July.
Lucchesi cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. As a player with more than three years of service time, he could have rejected that outright assignment in favor of free agency. However, since he has less than five years of service, heading to the open market would have involved walking away from what remained of his $1.65MM salary.
Naturally, he accepted that outright assignment and gets his roster spot back today. The Mets likely plan on just using Lucchesi for this one outing, as they have Severino, Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, David Peterson and Tylor Megill as starting options for the postseason.
If Lucchesi survives on the 40-man all winter, he could be retained for 2025 via arbitration. However, he will be out of options next year and will therefore have less appeal to the club as a depth option, which should make him a candidate to be bumped from the roster at some point. He has a 4.70 earned run average in 115 Triple-A innings this year.
As for Scott, he underwent a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure recently, so he will miss the remainder of this year and likely all of 2025 as well. He will spend most of that time on the 60-day IL, though there’s no injured list during the offseason, so he will need to retake a roster spot for at least a few months.
Chris Sale scratched due to back spasms (Holmes will start) G2. My thoughts are that they’re thinking NYM will tank G2 and trying to win while preserving Sale for G1 of Wild Card matchup on Tues, but won’t make it by losing #162.
This game is certainly unfolding that way. Mets hitters are up there hacking and Holmes knows it. Not sure if he’s actually pitching great or if the Mets are just trying to end the game as soon as possible. Probably a little of both.
There’s no way if Sale was healthy enough to pitch that today the Braves would hold him out for a potential game one of a playoff series without having won the game they need to get just to make the playoffs.
I didn’t want to post before G2 was done (and jinx it), but I guess we’ll find it when we see Wild Card G1 SP.
That doesn’t prove anything. They can give the guy an injection or something and he might feel better tomorrow. I’m saying your original premise doesn’t make sense. The Braves did not play well in the game two and easily could’ve lost this game and you’d be waiting for Sale to pitch in game one forever.
No, it doesn’t prove anything, but it would be an interesting turn after (like @Longtimecoming says below) a 4-hour flight, he wakes up, receives an injection and is good to go.
Considering the alternatives: Holmes (pitched today), Lopez (pitched 1 inning today), Morton (threw Sun), Fried (threw Sat), Schwell (started today) — who is starting G1? Ian Anderson?
@RunDMC: Please don’t let it be Chavez or Jackson………….
Swishanalytics is listing Ian Anderson as the SP. Not saying that’s reliable, but interesting I’m seeing it….did they announce something??
Back Spasms on Monday that prevents pitching in an elimination game (creating a BP game which is problematic for limited BP for a potential 3 game series) so, after a late night flight to SD he is supposed to be ready tomorrow?
4 hour flights aren’t good for a back spasm! Yes, he likely has better seats than I get but still.
Sale is likely to be unavailable for the WC Series. Man, that sucks for the Braves. I’m a Mets fan and I have to admit that they worked a miracle to get in the playoffs this year given their injuries.
Happy for my team. Mendoza did a great job as a rookie manager.
He will pitch the first 5 innings regularly before switching to his right hand for the last 4 innings.
Mets going all in for the sweep.
The correct move. Both potential opponents are great but shorter flight to MIL. And in a way it might seem for NYM that trip to ATL was just a fever dream and they never left Milwaukee hotel
Lucchesi is a Padre at heart, he’ll give his best to keep Sale out of Petco
Brew88: What a load of crap that only a fan would think of.
Players are professionals only focused on their current game and team.
I don’t know, maybe he was being funny?
If you say so.
Game of the year.
Agreed, but why are the seats half empty and why is the ballpark so quiet?
Because it is a Monday day game scheduled with only a week’s notice and no guarantee it was even going to be played until yesterday. People do have to work.
Only a week’s notice? So like i said, why are the seats half empty and why is the ballpark so quiet?
Since you are being sarcastic, I guess I will too. The seats are not half empty. Half the seats are empty. Unless there are a bunch of Atlanta fans with only one cheek that is..
Point taken. Apologies for my ironic, half-assed comment.;)
I’m assuming most Braves fans are full-figured biggins, so your point is taken.
Rain
A steady downpour rain?
Atlanta. I have walked up on game day and purchased playoff tickets there.
@Pads Fans: Braves w/the 4th best MLB attendance numbers this season.
Lucchesi was probably hanging around the stadium hoping that the Mets win Game 1. If The Mets lost Game 1, Lucchesi does not get selected to start Game 2.
truthlemonade: Thanks, Captain Obvious.
The NYM have to keep MIL Adames and Hoskins from wrecking the game with big hits including Home Runs. Their C, Contreras is another dangerous hitter.
Challenge the hitters make them hit 7 solo HRs if they can do it. No Free passes (Walks) or HBP. Make them earn their way on Dagnabit!
Play the Game Correctly
MIL will kill the NYM with runners on base because they steal so many bases (low % of getting thrown out)
Minimize MIL stealing opportunities as best as you can LGM!!!
Padre legend
Please option Danny Young, he’s brutal
Thanks for the hot take, Carlos.
The Mets earned their way into the tournament. Congratulations is all I can say.
Really? I’ve got plenty to say….namely JOHNNY UTAH IS A DUMMY WHO THINKS THE MUTTS ARE A CLOWN SHOW CIRCUS DISGRACE BUT THE ONLY ONE FITTING THAT BILL IS JOHNNY USELESS UTAH
Has a chance to be the most valuable DBack this year
Backs against the wall and mets playing to lose — seems like braves leading 1-0 are wimply staying in the playoffs so far
Joey pitched a really good game today, but the Braves are pitching a shutout.
BOTH the Mets and the Braves really stepped up and fought their way into the MLB playoffs. Congratulations to the last 2 playoff participants.
Honorable mentions go to the Arizona Diamondbacks who fought valiantly and well but just came up a little bit short.
I’m a diehard D’Backs fan, the Mets and Braves deserve to partake in the playoffs good luck to them.
But as far as the D’Backs they just choked away a 7-game lead over the Mets on August 28th to the end, hell 10 days ago they had a 93% shot of making the playoffs. They blew it, front and center.
When you have the 27 ranked pitching staff in the league, and the 14th in the National League, you should not make the playoffs. When you blow an 8-0 lead in Milwaukee and then come home and lose 2 out of 3 to the Giants and then 2-3 to a team that already had a spot in the playoffs you don’t deserve a playoff spot. Injuries happen to every team, but you make it work anyway at least the good teams do, this was a team that could not handle the pressure coming down to the final 2 weeks, to much pressure, could not rise above it. See ya in 2025, I’m out for this year. Now on to the NFL.
“Im a diehard Dbacks”…You seem like a very reasonable, knowledgeable, intelligent and nuanced fan. You raise an awful lot of really good points.
I’m disappointed for the Dbacks, who seemed a lock 5 weeks ago, but as you pointed out they did blow numerous chances to solidify their spot in the tournament.
I actually like their chances next year, because Jordy & EROD are most likely going to be much better and in Erod’s case hopefully much healthier.
Joey pitched a good game tonight and I’d like to see him come back on a minor league contract next year.
I’d have started Holmes in game 1. If he wins, you save Schwellenback for the playoffs. If Holmes loses, you can still start Schwellenback in game 2.
Pete Rose died
Pete Rose passed away. Like him or not, a sad day for the game.
For old people like me, Pete Rose was Major League baseball for an awfully long time. R.I.P to the complicated, complex personality known as Pete Rose.
You mean the gambler and kiddie diddler?
Not the time for that. Let fans remember him for his on field play.
In return, may no one spit on your grave.
Yeah I agree let’s look back with Rose tinted glasses and disregard who be was as a person because he got a lot of hits
/s
RIP Pete Rose