PITTSBURGH – Blade Tidwell’s three appearances in the major leagues may not have been particularly clean or particularly dominant, but when he takes the hill against the Brewers during the Mets’ upcoming homestand, the rookie will have at least one extra advantage: a shred of advanced notice.
By virtue of the Mets’ injury-riddled pitching staff, Tidwell, who pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief in the Mets’ 9-1 loss to the Pirates Friday, hasn’t necessarily been shown the blueprint for success. He had a heads-up for his major-league debut against the Cardinals in May, but had a surprise call-up the day before a spot start against the Phillies over a week ago, and again got thrust into action Friday after David Peterson’s abbreviated start.
“I’ve had time to work with the coaches here and they’ve been great,” Tidwell said of the difference. “I like to look at the other team and it also just helps being in one place, it helps a lot with how your body feels and being prepared.”
Despite the clunky relief outing – he allowed four runs and five hits with two walks and one strikeout Friday, but was mostly victimized by a mistake pitch that Bryan Reynolds blasted for a three-run homer – Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Tidwell, the franchise’s No. 14 prospect, still is penciled in to take Griffin Canning’s spot in the rotation.
Tidwell is 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA over 10 2/3 innings, though he’s shown flashes of his potential, particularly against that potent Phillies lineup. Though he clearly still needs development, the Mets’ current pitching picture is conscripting plenty into duty – ready or not. He has a 4.76 ERA in 13 games with Triple-A Syracuse this season.
If all goes according to plan, this week will be his first appearance at Citi Field; his family is planning to make the trip up from Tennessee.
“He got hit, obviously,” Mendoza said of Tidwell’s performance Friday. “Obviously, [it’s an issue of] execution. He left a slider up to Reynolds for the three-run homer, but overall, stuff wise, the velo was there…I think he’ll learn from it.”
For what it’s worth, it sounds like he already has.
“I learned that when you make mistakes, it’s more likely to get hit,” he said. “There’s always a good bit of jitters, but that’s a good thing, because you can either use it to help you, or use it and have it hurt you. Really, it’s about getting comfortable in the league and executing pitches.”
Manaea timeline uncertain
Sean Manaea (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen Sunday after playing catch Friday, though the plan after that remains murky. The lefty, who went down with an oblique injury in spring training, was nearing a return before an MRI discovered loose bodies in his elbow last week. President of baseball operations David Stearns typified it as a minor setback, and said Manaea likely would need one more rehab start this coming week before returning to the active roster, but that remains up in the air. “Especially with what he’s dealing with now – bullpen tomorrow and we’ve got to wait to see how he responds,” Mendoza said. “Then we’ll make that next decision.”
Raley, Winker take next steps
Brooks Raley (Tommy John) had his rehab assignment moved to Double-A Binghamton and pitched with them Saturday. Mendoza said it’s likely he won’t return until after the All-Star break. Earlier this month, Stearns said the reliever would probably take close to the full 30 days on his rehab clock due to his lengthy absence, which would take him to the first game after the break, July 18…Jesse Winker (oblique) will commence his rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn Sunday.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.