LOS ANGELES — Mets outfield depth has turned shallow since the latter part of spring training.
Jared Young is the latest casualty.
Young was placed on the injured list Wednesday with a meniscus tear in his left knee, becoming the third Mets outfielder sidelined by injury. Young is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday, with a return to play set for six to eight weeks.
Juan Soto is on the IL with a right calf strain, and Mike Tauchman underwent surgery for a meniscus tear in spring training. Tauchman’s injury created the opening for Young to stick with the team.
The Mets recalled MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Young’s spot.
Young, who also saw action at first base, owned a .350/.391/.450 slash line in 23 plate appearances.
He also provided a left-handed bat off the bench.
“There not only was going to be playing time for him, but he was giving us some good at-bats from the left side,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets faced the Dodgers on Wednesday night. “It’s a big blow, but guys will step up.”
Melendez signed with the team at the start of spring training, but was optioned to Syracuse late in camp.
The Mets later signed veteran outfielder Tommy Pham to a minor league contract and selected him to the major league roster Monday.
Jorge Polanco was absent from the starting lineup and could face an IL stint as soon as Friday, according to Mendoza, as he deals with bursitis in his right Achilles.
With Polanco sidelined, Melendez was inserted as the DH with Pham in left field.
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Soto continued a running progression and took at-bats against minor league pitching at Citi Field.
The goal, according to Mendoza, is to get Soto back in the lineup during the next homestand. Soto last played for the Mets on April 3.
Luis García was released by the Mets. The veteran reliever was designated for assignment by the club last weekend.
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Huascar Brazobán had not allowed an earned run over 11 multi-inning appearances since last season entering Wednesday.
The right-handed reliever had not allowed a run over 8 ¹/₃ innings this season, tying him for fifth in scoreless streaks among MLB relievers.
During their seven-game losing streak as play began Wednesday, the Mets had a .178/.211/.258 slash line from their lineup.
Opponents outscored the Mets 36-10 in those seven games. Six of the Mets’ runs during that stretch were scored in one game, against the Athletics on Saturday at Citi Field.
