Source: Mets prospect Nate Lavender is likely heading for Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow.

Full details:

mlb.com/news/prospect-…

Mark Vientos is back with the Mets and was asked what he thinks his role will be:

'Whatever they want me to do, I'm here for it.'

Edwin Diaz’s (Edwin Diaz) City Connect cleats celebrate the legacy of Louis Armstrong, the iconic trumpeter 🎺 who once called Queens, New York, home! 🌃🍎

'I made it.'

Five weeks later, J.D. Martinez is finally a Met:

mlb.com/mets/news/j-d-…

FINAL: Cardinals 4, Mets 2

WP: Miles Mikolas
LP: José Buttó
SV: Ryan Helsley

📰 J.D. Martinez had a single and an RBI double in his debut, but most other Mets were silent in defeat.

📊 Record: 13-12
📈 Streak: L1
🏃‍♂️ Pace: 84-78

Next: Saturday vs. STL, 4:05 p.m. ET

Control issues bit José Buttó tonight for the second consecutive start. He's issued eight walks over his last two outings, spanning 10 innings, though he did recover from his early troubles tonight to provide some length.

Buttó: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. His ERA is 2.86.

J.D. Martinez is 1-for-1 as a Met with an opposite-field single in his first at-bat.

Mets rehab updates:

▪️Kodai Senga (shoulder capsule strain) threw an up-down bullpen yesterday and is scheduled to face hitters for the first time on Monday.

▪️Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) is due to begin a minor league rehab assignment Saturday with two innings at Brooklyn.

Mets Game 25 of 162, vs. STL
Friday, April 26, 7:10 p.m.
RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 6.49)

Nimmo LF
Marte RF
Lindor SS
Alonso 1B
Martinez DH
McNeil 2B
Bader CF
Baty 3B
Nido C
-
Buttó RHP (0-0, 1.65)

From today's newsletter, a FAQ on J.D. Martinez's Mets debut:

mlb.com/news/j-d-marti…

Roster move: to clear space for J.D. Martinez, the Mets designated Zack Short for assignment.

DJ Stewart will stick around, which makes sense: Martinez isn't ready to play every single game, so Stewart can still draw some DH starts here and there.

Reliever Michael Tonkin has been claimed off waivers from the Yankees. He's had quite the journey this month, going from the Mets to the Twins back to the Mets and now to the Yankees, while being DFA'd three times in the process.

J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with this RBI double tonight at Triple-A Syracuse and finished his two-game stint there 3-for-8.

Next stop: Queens.

In their final game without J.D. Martinez, the Mets gave a glimpse at how potent their offense can be:

mlb.com/news/francisco…

Major League wins leaders:

1-t. José Berríos, 4
1-t. Tyler Glasnow, 4
1-t. Ranger Suárez, 4
1-t. Reed Garrett, 4*

*Garrett also has one save.

FINAL: Mets 8, Giants 2

WP: Reed Garrett
LP: Sean Hjelle

📰 Francisco Lindor hit two home runs and Tyrone Taylor added another to help the Mets salvage a 3-3 record on their California adventure.

📊 Record: 13-11
📈 Streak: W1
🏃‍♂️ Pace: 88-74

Next: Friday vs. STL, 7:10 p.m. ET

Adam Ottavino, at age 38, is off to a sensational start.

Through nine appearances, his ERA is 1.86. His K rate (18.4 per 9) is through the roof. His expected ERA is in the 99th percentile of pitchers, his BB rate is way down, and he's inducing some of the softest contact in MLB.

The good: Sean Manaea did not allow a run today.

The bad: Manaea needed 101 pitches to record 14 outs.

The ugly: The Mets will again rely on their bullpen for 4+ innings.

Manaea's final line: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K. His ERA through five starts is 3.33.

Tyrone Taylor is having himself another day.

Taylor is 2-for-3 with a solo homer, a two-run double and two runs scored. Through (most of) 18 games, he's batting .326/.360/.500 with 11 RBI.

Mets 6, Giants 0, top five.

Francisco Lindor's second home run of the West Coast trip and his second this season as a left-handed hitter gives the Mets their first lead of this series.

Mets 2, Giants 0, top three.