Lowrie to have injections for knee pain relief

NEW YORK -- Jed Lowrie's 18-month injury saga took another turn on Wednesday, when the team announced the infielder will undergo a series of platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections. Lowrie’s timeline to return to the Mets will depend upon the outcome of that treatment.

“It’s almost like a progression of injections and we’ll see how everything responds, and [if] the pain goes away and he’s able to join us at some point this season,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “That’s the plan.”

The injection regimen was presented to Lowrie as a course of therapy after examinations from both Mets physician Dr. David Altchek and an independent, third-party doctor. Lowrie has been unable to play due to PCL laxity, a loosening of a left knee ligament that causes him pain when he runs. Although Lowrie feels some relief from the pain when he wears a rehab brace on his knee, the brace is too large and restricting for him to wear in games.

Until Lowrie can play with a smaller, more mobile brace, he will not come off the 45-day injured list. He is not eligible to come off anyway until Sept. 3.

Lowrie, 36, has taken just eight plate appearances since signing a two-year, $20 million contract in Jan. 2019. He has spent the vast majority of his tenure on the IL due to left knee trouble and a right calf strain. Lowrie initially sustained a sprained left knee capsule in Feb. 2019, before the team revealed that he was also battling more general, undefined “left side” issues.

Only last month did the Mets announce the updated PCL laxity diagnosis for Lowrie. Rojas said he was unsure if Lowrie, who was unavailable for comment, considered surgery or only the injection regimen.

Even if Lowrie can make it back in September, he will find playing time hard to come by. The Mets feature a crowded middle infield with Amed Rosario, Andrés Giménez, Robinson Canó and others all jockeying for reps. J.D. Davis has become the starter at third base, one of Lowrie’s primary positions, while Giménez has developed into an early National League Rookie of the Year candidate at second and short. Given his physical issues, it seems unlikely Lowrie would contribute anywhere other than at designated hitter, which is Dominic Smith’s primary position.

From the trainer’s room
Starting pitcher Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) restarted a throwing program Tuesday at Citi Field, playing catch at distances up to 75 feet. He “felt better,” according to Rojas, but he will miss at least two starts on the IL. For now, Robert Gsellman has taken Wacha’s rotation spot.

Canó (left adductor strain) could return from the IL as soon as he’s eligible on Friday. Canó was scheduled to play in a simulated game Wednesday at the Mets’ alternate site in Brooklyn, which Rojas called “another step ahead” for the veteran second baseman. When Canó returns, the Mets will have to be creative to find playing time for Giménez.

Shortstop sidelined
Rosario was out of the lineup for a second straight game on Wednesday due to the lingering effects of a stomach bug, though he was available off the bench. Giménez filled in at shortstop.

Everyday Díaz
The key to Edwin Díaz’s recent run of success out of the bullpen? Pitching more often.

When the Mets removed Díaz from the closer’s role last week, he requested that the team use him more frequently than once every four or five days. Rojas listened, deploying Díaz five times in a 10-day stretch from Aug. 2-11, and the reliever responded with 10 strikeouts and one walk over five scoreless innings.

“Now that I’ve been pitching more consecutively and more often, I feel like my pitches are all sharp,” Díaz said through an interpreter. “But in regards to closing, that’s not my decision. I’m open to pitching whatever inning they tell me to come in -- whether it’s the sixth, seventh, eighth -- it doesn’t matter to me. As long as they put the ball in my hands, I’ll be ready to help the team.”

Since Díaz’s unofficial demotion, Rojas has exclusively turned to Seth Lugo in save situations. The team is taking a committee approach, however, making it possible for Díaz to garner more save chances again if he keeps pitching well.