New York Mets Place Carlos Carrasco on IL

LOS ANGELES - The Mets are down another starting pitcher.

Carlos Carrasco has been placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.

Carrasco will undergo imaging to determine whether there is structural damage.

In three starts this season, Carrasco was 0-2 with a 8.56 ERA. His velocity has also been noticeably down so far this year as well.

With Carrasco out, the next man up for the Mets would have been Jose Butto. However, Butto has to stay in the minor leagues for 15 days unless he’s replacing an injured player. The Mets called up reliever Jeff Brigham to replace Carrasco, meaning Butto can’t be an option unless someone else gets injured.

Butto made his season debut on Sunday, going five innings and allowing just one run against the Oakland Athletics. But he was optioned afterward.

The Mets could potentially go with a bullpen game in Carrasco’s next scheduled start on Friday, or they could call-up lefty Joey Lucchesi.

The good news is that Justin Verlander is close to making a rehab start. Verlander threw a bullpen on Tuesday and will then do live batting practice on Sunday. His final step will be a minor league rehab start, which could come next Friday.

Once Verlander returns, which could be by late next week, Tylor Megill would be able to stick in the rotation to take Carrasco’s spot. Megill is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA this season.

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