NEW YORK — Mets reliever J.J. Putz is scheduled to
throw a simulated game Saturday and could go to Class-A Brooklyn for a rehab
stint if all goes well.
Putz had surgery in June to remove a bone spur and
fragments of bone from his right elbow. The right-hander, acquired in the
offseason from Seattle to be Francisco Rodriguez's setup man, is 1-4 with a 5.22
ERA and two saves on the season.
"He's ready to compete," manager Jerry Manuel said before
New York hosted the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.
Putz is one of several key players on the disabled list
for the Mets, who have fallen out of the playoff picture with many of their
stars sidelined. Some of the injured players are getting closer to returning but
it may be too late for fading New York.
Left-handed reliever Billy Wagner, coming off major elbow
surgery, played catch before the game against the Braves and is hoping to come
off the disabled list Thursday.
"It's not much fun to be healthy and watch," Wagner said.
"That's for sure."