MLB

Christian Scott rejoining Mets’ rotation as Jose Butto could be added to bullpen

WASHINGTON — The Mets are set to receive a live arm for the rotation — and one for the bullpen might not be far behind.

Christian Scott will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday to rejoin the Mets rotation, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, and team officials are discussing the possibility of adding Jose Butto to the beleaguered bullpen.

Scott, who emerged last season as the organization’s top pitching prospect, started five games in May for the Mets — including his major league debut — and earned positive reviews. The right-hander pitched to a 3.90 ERA in five starts with 25 strikeouts and six walks in 27 ²/₃ innings.

Christian Scott is rejoining the Mets'  rotation.
Christian Scott is rejoining the Mets’ rotation. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Most notably, Scott pitched at least six innings in three of his five starts, a welcomed sign in a rotation that has struggled with length this season.

Scott, 25, is receiving the call during a stretch in which the Mets are scheduled to play 17 straight days. But there also is a rotation vacancy following the decision after Sunday’s game to option Tylor Megill to Syracuse so the team could add to a depleted bullpen.

Entering Monday, the Mets were only halfway through Edwin Diaz’s 10-game suspension for applying a sticky substance to the baseball.

Also, Drew Smith (who is facing likely Tommy John surgery) and Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement) were placed on the injured list last week.

Butto, if recalled, would help bolster the bullpen. But team officials also want to keep the right-hander stretched out in case he’s needed as rotation depth. A compromise would be deploying him as a multi-inning reliever who would essentially piggyback the starting pitcher.

“If [Butto] comes he probably is going to be more of a length option, initially, until we kind of figure things out and get into the All-Star break” pitching coach Jeremy Hefner told The Post.

Butto, 26, has appeared in seven games for the Mets this season (all starts) and pitched to a 3.08 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 21 walks in 38 innings.

“He pitched well here and he’s continued to pitch well at Triple-A,” Hefner said. “He deserves that chance whenever it comes.”

Mendoza said he wanted to see where the Mets were in terms of need following Monday’s game before a decision is reached, but Butto was in play as an option.

Jose Butto could be added to the Mets' bullpen.
Jose Butto could be added to the Mets’ bullpen. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Mets’ thin bullpen was exposed in consecutive losses to the Astros on Saturday and Sunday.

The wave of newcomers has included Matt Festa, Tyler Jay and Ty Adcock.

On Sunday, Festa allowed four earned runs in the 11th inning in a Mets loss in his debut for the team. A day earlier, Jake Diekman and Reed Garrett imploded late as the Mets flushed a late lead.

“When you have guys go down, in a situation like Edwin’s it puts guys in different types of roles than they normally would be in,” Hefner said. “It is challenging, but we trust the guys that we have here. They wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think they could get outs and then it just comes down to execution. That is the part where we have to be better.”