Due to the need for a spot starter and the upcoming double header, the Mets made moves before game one, and will make a move in between the two halves.
Due to the need of a spot starter, and the upcoming double header against the Cardinals, the Mets needed to be creative in order to fill all their pitching needs.
A few of the moves were announced by the Mets themselves this morning. Austin Warren was optioned to Triple-A to make way for the debuting Blade Tidwell (Amazin Avenue’s 16th best prospect in the system), who was in line to get his first Major League start yesterday, which was postponed due to rain. However, Warren will still be with the team today despite being optioned since a 27th man is allowed for double headers, and Warren will fill that role.
The creativity here is how the Mets get Dedniel Núñez onto the roster for game two. Núñez was an integral part of the 2024 bullpen, pitching to a 2.31 ERA in 25 games, striking out a whopping 35.6% of the batters he faced, while walking just 5.9%. However, a strained right flexor ended his 2024 season, and caused the Mets to bring him along slowly in 2025.
With multiple reports, both last night from Mike Rodriguez, and this morning from Mike Puma, confirming that Núñez will be joining the Mets, they chose an interesting route to get him on the roster.
Making Warren the 27th man instead of Núñez or Tidwell makes it so Tidwell can start game one and get optioned in between games for Núñez, all while Warren allows for extra cover in the bullpen with the use of the extra roster spot.