Trevor May can only hope his luck is about to turn.
After spending four months on the injured list with a stress reaction in his right arm, the veteran reliever returned to the Mets last month and was finally starting to provide the team with solid results. That momentum (three consecutive scoreless appearances with five strikeouts in 2 ¹/₃ innings) was halted by his testing positive for COVID-19 during the Mets’ final homestand.
“There’s not a lot going on for me this year in general,” May said Monday as she joined the Mets roster before the team lost 5-2 to the Cubs. “But luckily I’m a baseball player and I’m used to that kind of stuff and fighting and preparing.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely frustrated and angry for the first two days, because I felt like I was starting to have some continuity on the mound, getting some big strikeouts. I took pride in my work, and having to step back and reset wasn’t ideal.
During quarantine, May said he stayed free by flipping his apartment couch on its side and tying down blankets so he could throw fastballs at it.
Now his goal is to stay on the pitch.
“Hopefully I personally get lucky, but luckily when things don’t go my way, they tend to go the Mets way,” May said. “So if it’s a sacrifice I have to make, I will.”
As expected, Luis Gullorme has also been activated from IL, having missed out last month with a sprained left groin. The infielder was available on the bench.
Trevor Williams remains a possibility to start Wednesday in part because Mets officials could start using David Peterson in a left-handed relief role. The Pirates, who begin a four-game series Thursday at Citi Field, have a left-handed roster that could give Peterson opportunities. Peterson started in Miami on Friday and allowed three earned runs in 3 ²/₃ innings.
Tylor Megill is expected to join the Mets by this weekend as a reliever. The right-hander is expected to pitch beyond an inning in relief Tuesday for Triple-A Syracuse.
Max Scherzer has been thrown into the outfield for a long time, a day after throwing his first bullpen session since going to the IL with a left oblique irritation. The right-hander is eligible to join the roster next Monday, which would align with his turn in the rotation.
“I can’t say for sure, but it’s possible,” Scherzer said, when asked to return in time. “I just have to tick the boxes along the way.”
The Mets placed reliever Bryce Montes de Oca on the IL with a strained left hamstring. Infielder Devan Marrero was designated for the assignment.
