The Mets can breathe a sigh of relief about reliever Reed Garrett’s ailing right elbow.
An MRI revealed inflammation of the nerve, manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday in an update he described as “good news.”
Garrett is expected to be out between two and four weeks, Mendoza said.
“I was concerned,” Mendoza said after Thursday’s 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. “Huge relief.”
The Mets placed Garrett on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, a day after the right-hander surrendered three runs in 0.2 innings and failed to finish off the ninth in a 7-5 win over Washington.
Garrett said Thursday that his hand felt cramped during the outing and that he lost his feel for the ball.
“Tuesday night was rough,” Garrett said. “When I got here Wednesday, I was worried, concerned, but to get the news that we got is huge. I’m pumped, I’m happy, that nothing’s wrong, really.”
Multiple doctors reviewed Garrett’s MRI, delaying Thursday’s announcement until after the game.
“The next couple of days kind of determine where we go,” Garrett said. “Today was a big step. Made progress in like 36 hours, something like that. It was exciting. Obviously, it’s kind of like, ‘Take it day by day, see where we’re at.’”
Garrett, 31, began the season at Triple-A Syracuse but, upon being called up on April 1, quickly emerged as a late-inning weapon. He boasts a 3.64 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 42 innings, recording more than three outs in 11 of his 36 appearances.
Garrett’s seven wins lead all Mets pitchers — including starters — while his four saves rank second on the team. He was particularly dominant in April, when went 5-0 with a 0.57 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 15.2 innings.
The Mets bullpen entered Thursday with a 4.21 ERA to rank 20th in baseball. The Mets previously lost relievers Brooks Raley and Drew Smith to season-ending elbow injuries.
Garrett is in his second season with the Mets and his fourth in the majors. He also pitched for Detroit, Washington and Baltimore and owns a 5.42 ERA over 67 career appearances.
