Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Mendoza Saddened by Mets News on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 5:56 PM ET

The New York Mets are still within striking distance in the NL East after breaking their four-game losing streak on Wednesday night, but there's plenty of work to do. New York is now two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies atop the division and just a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the first Wild Card spot ahead of its rubber match with the latter club on Thursday.

The Mets were swept in three games by the Pittsburgh Pirates in their previous series and outscored 30-4 over that stretch. They followed that up with a 7-2 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday afternoon before winning the second game of the doubleheader 7-3.

However, the team placed right-handed pitchers Paul Blackburn (shoulder) and Dedniel Núñez (elbow) on the 15-day IL before Thursday's contest. Manager Carlos Mendoza gave his thoughts about Núñez, who might need Tommy John surgery after getting it in 2021, via SNY.

"It sucks, you know? When he goes through that outing last night and reports that soreness, the discomfort on that elbow, you know right away," he said. "Especially with what he went through last year, he already had one Tommy John. You feel for the kid."

"You feel for the athlete, obviously. Great kid, great person," he continued. "He was huge for us last year, and you started seeing some of those signs again with the way he was throwing the baseball. Again, we just gotta wait and see. Pray for him, and support him."

"You feel for the kid."

Carlos Mendoza talks about the possibility of Dedniel Núñez having another Tommy John Surgery: pic.twitter.com/a0eyyb14XF
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 3, 2025

Núñez notched a 2.31 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 35 innings pitched for New York last season before going down with a flexor injury in September. The 29-year-old allowed no runs on one hit in 0.2 innings in Wednesday night's win.

Southpaw hurler David Peterson (5-4, 3.30 ERA) will pitch for the Mets against Brewers southpaw Jose Quintana (6-2, 3.30 ERA) on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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