Post by Fish Troll on Aug 4, 2008 20:35:12 GMT -5
HOUSTON (AP) -- Billy Wagner has a strained left forearm and will have his second MRI in two weeks on Tuesday, leaving the New York Mets without their closer and starter John Maine.
Maine was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a mild strain in his right rotator cuff. He left Monday's game in Florida after 4 1-3 innings because of pain in his shoulder.
Wagner said he felt pain in his forearm on Tuesday, when he earned his 27th save with a scoreless ninth in the Mets' 4-1 win over Florida. He blew a save chance on Saturday night and said his arm felt strong, but he struggled to locate his pitches.
The Mets didn't make a move with Wagner but the left-hander was unavailable for their game against Houston on Sunday. New York is off Monday before hosting San Diego in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.
"When you lose Billy Wagner, that's very critical for us," manager Jerry Manuel said.
The Mets purchased right-hander Eddie Kunz's contract from Double-A Binghamton to fill Maine's roster spot. Manuel said the 22-year-old Kunz might be his closer on Sunday.
Maine was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a mild strain in his right rotator cuff. He left Monday's game in Florida after 4 1-3 innings because of pain in his shoulder.
Wagner said he felt pain in his forearm on Tuesday, when he earned his 27th save with a scoreless ninth in the Mets' 4-1 win over Florida. He blew a save chance on Saturday night and said his arm felt strong, but he struggled to locate his pitches.
The Mets didn't make a move with Wagner but the left-hander was unavailable for their game against Houston on Sunday. New York is off Monday before hosting San Diego in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.
"When you lose Billy Wagner, that's very critical for us," manager Jerry Manuel said.
The Mets purchased right-hander Eddie Kunz's contract from Double-A Binghamton to fill Maine's roster spot. Manuel said the 22-year-old Kunz might be his closer on Sunday.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/03/bc.bbn.mets.wagner.ap/index.html
This could hurt Mets chances of keeping up in the NL East race.
