ATLANTA — The Mets didn’t trade Devin Williams at last week’s deadline but will still have to navigate the late innings — at least for a few weeks — without him.
An already largely untested bullpen, which subtracted four key veterans before the deadline, has another hole to fill after Williams was placed on the injured list Monday with a right shoulder strain.
The right-hander had arm fatigue last week before returning to pitch Friday.
“He has been dealing with a little bit of shoulder fatigue for a little while now, something he felt confident he could pitch through,” interim manager Andy Green said. “You appreciate the warrior mentality to step on the mound and continue to compete for us, but after the last outing it just made sense for us to get an MRI and get it checked.”
Enter Kodai Senga, who assumed the closer’s role in the Mets’ 8-5 victory over the Braves on Monday.
Senga pitched a scoreless ninth and wanted the baseball as a keepsake from his first MLB save, except that Carson Benge — who caught the final out — had already thrown it to a fan.
“I think Bengie is trying to tell me that I should have just punched him out,” said Senga, who struck out the previous two batters in the inning.
Williams, who arrived on a three-year contract worth $51 million, has pitched to a 4.66 ERA with 16 saves in 42 appearances this season. In his outing Friday against the Pirates, he surrendered two earned runs on three hits in recording the save.
Williams’ strain, according to Green, isn’t considered serious and the Mets are hopeful he will return this season. Green placed a timeline of a “few weeks” for Williams to potentially begin throwing again.
“I know he wants to compete for us again before the year is out,” Green said. “He wants to get on the mound and finish strong.”
The IL stint occurs a week after the team dealt A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán at the trade deadline.
Green said the closer’s role will remain fluid in Williams’ absence, but acknowledged Senga’s upside. Senga has shifted to higher-leverage relief situations since the bullpen’s overhaul. Entering Monday, he had pitched two shutout innings in higher-leverage spots over the past week.
“I think it’s a great environment for myself,” Senga said. “First of all, my body feels great. I’m able to go out there and perform in short innings, regardless of the situation.”
Senga’s struggles as a starter prompted his shift to a middle relief role last month. The right-hander began play with an 8.29 ERA overall.
“He was great [tonight],” Green said. “Hopefully he feels great [Tuesday] and he’s ready to go again.”
Senga acknowledged the challenge he will face in pitching consecutive days if needed.
“I have not done that before, so I don’t know what’s to come,” he said. “I don’t know what to expect, but as a reliever it’s something that most of these guys do and experience, so that may be coming down the road, but it’s to be seen.”
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The new cast includes lefties Nate Lavender and Jefry Yan and right-hander Dedniel Núñez, who returned last week from Tommy John surgery rehab. The Mets have received a boost from Daniel Duarte, who has pitched to a 1.04 ERA in 12 appearances — including a scoreless two-inning stint Monday. Yan, who possesses triple-digit heat, has gained attention for his post-strikeout celebrations.
“Right now, it depends on the pocket,” Green said of his plans at closer. “I think there’s three or four guys that, given the context of the game, it makes sense to face certain hitters and I am confident in the makeup of the human that they will be able to handle the moment.”
