Mets will be without a top reliever for the rest of the season

According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, after Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, Brooks Raley will be undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. Mendoza said they were still determining whether Raley would have traditional Tommy John surgery or the internal brace surgery.

The 35-year-old had been trying to avoid surgery since going on the shelf on April 25 and attempted to pitch this week and still didn’t feel right, resulting in surgery becoming necessary.

“It’s unfortunate because he gave it everything he had,” Mendoza said. “He just kept feeling something there, and now we’re going to go in there and see what’s going on.”

Raley had pitched seven innings across eight appearances this season, allowing no runs and just five hits while striking out nine. The left-hander is set to be a free agent after the campaign concludes.

Who will replace Raley in the Mets’ bullpen?

With Raley out for the season, Jake Diekman will be the Mets’ primary lefty out of the bullpen. Diekman has pitched 16.1 innings across 20 appearances this season to a 3.86 ERA with a 1.347 WHIP and 23 strikeouts while recording a save.

If the blue and orange want a second lefty in the pen, Josh Walker is an option. Walker has split time between the big leagues and Triple-A this season. In five major league appearances, Walker has pitched seven innings to a 2.57 ERA with a 0.857 WHIP and six strikeouts.

Time will tell how Mendoza manages the bullpen now, knowing he will be without his top left-hander permanently, but Diekman will likely be getting his number called more now than ever.