Brandon Nimmo’s timeline for a return to the Mets lineup has come into focus.
As the outfielder continues a rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse, a club source indicated Thursday that Nimmo is expected back during the Mets’ next road trip. The Mets will begin a seven-game road swing Monday.
Nimmo has spent close to two months on the injured list after tearing a ligament in his left hand that was initially thought to be nerve damage. Nimmo began his rehab assignment with Syracuse on Sunday.
Within the last week, the Mets have returned Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto from the IL. Still behind Nimmo on the rehab trail is J.D. Davis, who has also been sidelined since early May with a hand injury. The Mets have not indicated when Davis, who has been working out with the team, might begin a rehab assignment.
Edwin Diaz’s save Wednesday was his third this season of more than three outs. The right-hander entered with one out in the eighth against the Braves and didn’t allow a run in the Mets’ 7-3 victory. It was Diaz’s 16th save in 17 opportunities this season.
“If you run into the right sequence of days where he hasn’t pitched and if you feel you can do it, you do it,” manager Luis Rojas said of the five-out save. “[Wednesday] was a night he could do it for us and he did an outstanding job.”
Diaz has pitched to a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 30 appearances for the Mets this season.
“Diaz has been great this whole year,” Francisco Lindor said. “He comes in and he lights it up.”
Zack Wheeler is scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale against his former team. In a strange twist, his Mets mound opponent will be Jerad Eickhoff, who used to pitch for the Phillies. Eickhoff and Wheeler have never started against each other.