PHILADELPHIA — The Mets have in all likelihood lost an interesting arm for the rest of the season and they hope not for longer.
Tylor Megill again has been shut down from throwing after a setback in which he felt tightness in his arm while throwing his secondary pitches Sunday.
Nearly three months after his initial injury, Megill was sent to New York for another MRI exam.
The righty had been rehabbing an elbow sprain that arose after a June start in which he also felt discomfort throwing his off-speed pitches, and a subsequent MRI exam at the time found inflammation in the elbow.
Carlos Mendoza did not want to declare Megill done for the year and did not want to speculate about a potential surgery before learning the results, but he acknowledged the recurrence was a concern.
“The fact that he’s getting another MRI and where we’re at,” the Mets manager said Monday before a series-opening 1-0 loss at Citizens Bank Park, “feels like we’re running out of time.”
Megill had made six rehab starts with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse to varying results: He struck out nine in 3 ¹/₃ one-hit innings Aug. 17 and allowed five runs in two-plus innings while feeling the discomfort Sunday.
The Mets, who have six starting pitchers in their rotation and Kodai Senga hoping to become an option after being optioned, likely were not going to bring back Megill as a starter but as a reliever, and his powerful stuff could have played up in a shorter burst.
Instead, the Mets and Megill will wait for results from the imaging that likely will end a season in which he has pitched to a 3.95 ERA in 14 starts.
Also lost Monday was Luis Torrens, although the Mets are hopeful he misses the minimum 10 days.
The backup catcher was placed on the IL with a right forearm contusion suffered while successfully blocking a pitch Saturday.
Torrens struggled in trying to throw Sunday, when the only usable Mets catcher in Francisco Alvarez had eight working fingers.
Torrens said he believes he will only need “a few days” to heal and be ready for a return, but the Mets could not wait a few days to add another catcher behind Alvarez as Hayden Senger was called up to take his spot.
“It’s a matter of pain tolerance, and right now, there’s a lot of pain,” Torrens said through interpreter Alan Suriel.
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Torrens’ throwing arm is his best attribute and is responsible for throwing out 18-of-43 attempted base-stealers this season, the best percentage in baseball.
For his part, even with a right thumb that needs surgery, Alvarez threw out Harrison Bader trying to steal second base in the fourth inning.
Juan Soto (0-for-3 with a walk) extended his on-base streak to a season-best 17 games in which he has posted a .531 OBP.
Jose Siri played games in three straight days for the first time from Friday through Sunday while with Syracuse.
The center fielder, rehabbing from a fractured tibia, is “getting close,” Mendoza said, adding the club is amid conversation about whether he will be activated in the coming days.
Senga, who has been throwing bullpen sessions at the lower level, likely will pitch Friday or Saturday with Syracuse.