Closer Bobby Parnell is day-to-day with a strained quad muscle. Parnell was injured covering first base during a pitchers fielding drill Thursday.
Parnell was scheduled to throw off the mound Thursday, but pushed his session back a day to be cautious. Then came the injury.
Pitching coach Dan Warthen said he didn’t believe the injury was serious.
“Everyone thinks it’s very, very mild,’’ Warthen told reporters. “He wanted to throw today.’’
Parnell, who is coming off neck surgery to repair a herniated disc, threw 35 pitches in the bullpen Tuesday, but doesn’t know when he will throw again.
It was questionable to begin with whether Parnell will be ready for the start of the season. This sets him back even further, but the team isn’t close to saying there’s a sense of urgency with him.
If Parnell isn’t ready, the Mets plan on using Vic Black as the closer. They also signed veterans Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth for bullpen depth.