Shaun Marcum scarcthed from simulated game. Who will pitch for him on Sunday?

Shaun Marcum was unable to pitch a simulated game today because of neck pain.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) April 2, 2013

 

Shaun Marcum was scratched from his scheduled simulated game in St. Lucie today due to neck pain.  Marcum was already on the disabled list due to biceps tendinitis.  If today's simulated game went well Marcum was scheduled to come off the disabled list on Sunday and pitch against the Miami Marlins.  Now the Mets will not only have find someone to pitch Sunday.  But perhaps for a long period of time if this injury turns out to be serious.

Lets take a look at the candidates.

Candidate #1

Aaron Laffey:  The Mets signed Laffey to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training this off-season.  Laffey had a strong spring for the Mets and Terry Collins indicated he would be the first the crack at an open rotation spot.  Another thing working in Laffey's favor is he would be a second left-hander in a heavily right-handed rotation.  What might work against Laffey is he is not the 40-man roster.  But an roster spot can be opened by the Mets transferring Johan Santana from the 15-Day to the 60-Day disabled list.  Laffey was 4-6 with a 4.56 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 100.2 innings for the Blue Jays last season.

Candidate #2

Collin McHugh:  McHugh pitched only a few innings in Major League Spring Training before being sent to minor league camp.  So he was an after thought initially.  But with Jeremy Hefner already taking over for Johan Santana's spot in the rotation and now the second injury to Marcum, McHugh might get a chance to contribute early yet.  What works in his favor is he has been coincident throughout his minor league career at every level of the farm system, though the numbers don't look good he did have some success when the Mets called him up at the end of the 2012 season and the fact he is already on the 40-man roster.

Candidate #3

Zack Wheeler:  I want to clarify by saying Wheeler is not a candidate for the Sunday start vs. the Marlins.  Wheeler is already slated to pitch the opener for the Triple-A Las Vegas this Thursday and Mets want him to fine tune his craft a little at Triple-A.  But if Marcum does turn out to be a long term loss for the Mets and Wheeler is impressing the Mets brass at Triple-A.  I would expect Wheeler to get the call sooner than later.  Perhaps Wheeler could be grassing the Citi Field pitchers mound by late-April or early-May.

Verdict: The Mets will move Johan Santana to the 60-Day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Aaron Laffey.  Laffey will get the start on Sunday and will continue to fill the fifth starters roll until Marcum is ready to return or Wheeler is deemed ready.  If Laffey takes advantage of the opportunity perhaps he can work his way into the bullpen has a left-handed long-man when Marcum or Wheeler are ready to take that spot in the rotation.