Smith gave up a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless eighth inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
Max Scherzer worked the first seven frames, so manager Buck Showalter may have been hinting at how he plans to use Smith in the regular season by deploying him in this spot. The right-hander was already set to have a fairly significant role in the Mets' bullpen this season, but the injury to Edwin Diaz (knee) bumps everyone else up a rung on the ladder. With at least one of David Robertson and Adam Ottavino moving into the ninth inning, Smith could be one of the team's primary high-leverage right-handers. The 29-year-old recorded a career-high 14 holds in 2022, but he could easily top that number this season. Smith has looked sharp this spring to boot, posting an 8:2 K:BB through five innings while giving up only one run.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Officially activated from IL
Rotowire
Smith was activated off the 15-day injured list by the Mets on Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has been held out of action since the end of July with a lat strain on his right side. During his rehab stint in Triple-A Syracuse, he pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out six batters. He figures to serve as a middle-innings option in the Mets' bullpen as they prepare for what they hope will be a deep run into the postseason.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Activation coming Tuesday
Rotowire
Manager Buck Showalter said Smith (lat) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Smith made his fourth minor-league rehab appearance Saturday, clearing the way for him to rejoin the active roster this week. The 28-year-old has been a solid bullpen piece for the Mets this season with a 3.51 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB across 41 innings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: First appearance set for Saturday
Rotowire
Smith (lat) is scheduled to make his first rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Mets manager Buck Showalter previously suggested that Smith would begin his rehab assignment last weekend, but that never materialized. The organization's brain trust may just have wanted Smith to continue to building up with another live session, but the right-hander now looks like he's ready to test himself in a game setting. Smith, who has been on the injured list since July 28 with a lat strain, is likely to work in middle relief for New York once activated.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Should head to minors Sunday
Rotowire
Mets manager Buck Showalter said Smith (lat) will begin a rehab assignment in the minors Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has been sidelined since late July with a right lat strain and will likely require at least two appearances in the minors before the Mets are comfortable bringing him back from the 15-day injured list. Prior to being deactivated, Smith collected 14 holds and posted a 3.51 ERA in 41 innings out of the New York bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Completes side session
Rotowire
Smith (lat) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The mound session was Smith's first since he was placed on the 15-day injured list July 28 with a right lat strain. He'll likely need to throw at least one more bullpen session before advancing to facing hitters in live batting practice, and then heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Smith still looks on pace to return from the IL at some point in the final three weeks of the regular season, at which point he'll likely step into a middle-relief or setup role out of the Mets bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Slated to throw Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (lat) will resume throwing Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has been on the injured list for over two weeks, but he's been cleared to begin a throwing program. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return to game action, but he seems to be trending in the right direction.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Officially lands on injured list
Rotowire
Smith (lat) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith underwent an MRI on Wednesday that revealed a right lat strain and will be forced to miss at least two weeks due to his injury. It's not yet clear whether the Mets expect him to spend more than the minimum of 15 days on the IL, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the team seek out additional bullpen depth ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Dealing with lat strain
Rotowire
Smith was diagnosed with a right lat strain after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith will be headed to the 15-day injured list, but since the Mets are off Thursday, the transaction likely won't be made official until Friday. The right-hander will be eligible to return from the IL on Aug. 9, though injuries of these sort typically necessitate a longer recovery timeline. With that in mind, the Mets could be eager to add extra bullpen depth ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, as Smith had been one of the team's most-trusted relief arms this season with a 3.51 ERA and 14 holds across 41 innings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Expected to land on injured list
Rotowire
Smith is expected to be placed on the injured list with an arm injury Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Smith hasn't pitched since Sunday, so his likely move to the IL will presumably be backdated to July 25. Assuming that's the case, the right-hander will be eligible to return as early as Aug. 9, but his injury could lead the Mets to seek out other relievers ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Smith has picked up 14 holds while posting a 3.51 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 41 innings over 37 appearances this year.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Collects first win
Rotowire
Smith (1-1) picked up the win Thursday against the Brewers, giving up two hits over a scoreless inning of relief while striking out one.
Entering the game to begin the eighth inning with the score tied 4-4, Smith kept the heart of Milwaukee's order off the board then got rewarded when the Mets pushed across a run in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander has been scored upon only once in his last eight appearances, posting a 0.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 9.1 innings over that stretch, and his high-leverage role has allowed him to amass a career-high 12 holds already in 2022.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Looks sharp in relief outing
Rotowire
Smith (finger) retired four of the seven batters he faced via strikeout and allowed two hits and no walks over 1.2 innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Nationals.
Smith was back on the mound just two days after dislocating his right pinkie finger during his relief appearance in Sunday's win over the Phillies. He had no issues with finding the zone or making bats miss Tuesday, as he threw 23 of his 29 pitches for strikes and induced five swinging strikes. The Mets will likely aim to stay away from Smith in Wednesday's series finale one day after the lengthy appearance, but his finger injury doesn't look to be anything that will bother him moving forward.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Hopes to return soon
Rotowire
Smith (finger) said Monday that he hopes to be available as early as Tuesday against the Nationals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith sustained a dislocated right pinky finger during Sunday's win over the Phillies, but he checked out fine after undergoing X-rays and a CT scan. Even if the right-hander ultimately isn't cleared to return Tuesday, it seems likely that he'll avoid a trip to the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: X-rays negative
Rotowire
Smith was diagnosed with a dislocated right pinky finger after exiting Sunday's game against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith attempted to barehand a comebacker in the top of the seventh inning Sunday, and he immediately exited the game with a trainer. The right-hander's X-rays didn't reveal a fracture, and he's considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's series opener against the Nationals.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Smith exited Sunday's game against the Phillies in the top of the seventh inning due to an apparent right finger injury, David Lennon of Newsday reports.
Smith entered Sunday's matchup in the top of the seventh inning and retired the first two batters he faced, but he attempted to barehand a comebacker with two outs and was immediately removed from the game. The severity of his injury isn't yet clear.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Notches hold No. 10
Rotowire
Smith gave up a hit without a walk or a strikeout over 1.2 scoreless innings Thursday to record his 10th hold of the season in an extra-inning win over the Cardinals.
After Chris Bassitt put two runners aboard with one out in the seventh inning and the Mets ahead 5-3, Smith got the call to put out the fire, although he did allow one inherited runner to score. The 28-year-old reliever is blossoming in a high-leverage role, as he came into 2022 with only seven career holds. Smith also carries a 1.53 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 17.2 innings with a career-high 29.4 percent strikeout rate.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Stuck with loss Friday
Rotowire
Smith (0-1) took the loss Friday against the Mariners, giving up one run on one hit and two walks in one inning of relief. He struck out two.
It was the first run Smith has given up all season, and the right-hander also walked multiple batters for the first time. The right-hander still has eight holds in 13 appearances while posting a 0.63 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB through 14.1 innings as a key member of the Mets' high-leverage crew.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Collects fourth hold
Rotowire
Smith walked one and struck out one in one-third of an inning Friday to pick up his fourth hold of the season in an extra-inning win over the Diamondbacks.
With a runner on second and two outs in the sixth inning, Smith relieved David Peterson and issued a free pass to Matt Davidson before fanning Christian Walker. Smith has already tied his career high in holds, and he's been a valuable middle-relief arm so far for the 11-4 Mets with a 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB through seven appearances and seven innings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Impressive start to season
Rotowire
Smith has recorded two holds in three appearances to begin the season, posting a 0.00 ERA and 6:0 K:BB through 3.2 innings.
The right-hander put up strong numbers in 2021 in a middle-relief role, but Smith appears to have graduated to the setup corps this season. He's crediting usage of a sharper slider, as opposed to the cutter he had been leaning on as a breaking pitch, for his excellent early results, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. "I just felt like when I threw the cutter and didn't get it where I wanted to get it, if I left it middle at all, it was just kind of flat and that's when I would give up damage," Smith said after Tuesday's win over the Phillies. "I kept the same grip. I just manipulate it a little differently now. I think curveball in my head while I'm holding it with my cutter grip, which turns it into a slider. It works for me, and it's been good. I'm happy where it's at right now."
... See More... See Less
Mets' Drew Smith: Looks sharp in intrasquad game
Rotowire
Manager Buck Showalter said Smith (foot) pitched a perfect inning-plus Thursday in the Mets' intrasquad game, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith's flawless relief appearance indicates that he's fully healthy again after he didn't complete his scheduled throwing session Wednesday due to a sore right foot. The right-hander's spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen looks fairly secure, though he'll likely be limited to a low-leverage role to begin the season.
