LOS ANGELES — Luke Weaver could chalk up his first rough performance for the Mets as just baseball being baseball.
But when he followed that two days later with an implosion against the Athletics on Saturday, the veteran reliever began to soul-search.
“I think there is pressure I am putting on myself to try to perform for the team, to try to make impact and really I just want to win,” Weaver said before the Mets lost 4-0 to the Dodgers on Monday.
“There comes a point of just simplifying and being like, ‘Whatever you do is already good enough,’ and then we just find tweaks along the way to improve. It’s not trying to rewrite anything, it’s just reminding myself and having people remind me that you don’t need to put the team on your back in moments, you just need to rely on the collective and we are a lot better for that.”
Weaver, who arrived on a two-year contract worth $22 million, allowed four earned runs on three hits and one walk in Saturday’s eighth inning.
It followed an outing against the Diamondbacks in which he recorded only two outs and surrendered two earned runs on two hits and was charged for a blown save.
“I have to continue to be more aggressive and in attack mode and not try to pitch defensively,” Weaver said. “I think there are some factors that are reacting to results and they are stacking up in a pressure, stressful environment already.”
Clay Holmes threw a side session and has been cleared for his scheduled start Wednesday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. The right-hander departed his start Friday with left hamstring discomfort.
Juan Soto continues to receive treatment for his strained right calf but has not begun running, according to Mendoza. However, the manager indicated Soto remains on the original timetable of two to three weeks for return to play that he received when he was placed on the injured list eight days ago.
Mendoza said it was unclear if Soto might need at-bats in the minor leagues before returning to the Mets lineup. It’s also possible he would receive at-bats in simulated game settings at Citi Field. Soto may receive additional imaging “pretty soon” to determine his progress, according to Mendoza.
Ronny Mauricio was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, clearing space for Tommy Pham to join the team. Mauricio was recalled on the last homestand to give the Mets a bat off the bench after Soto was placed on the injured list. Mauricio went 1-for-4, which included a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
