ST. LOUIS -- By now, the New York Mets figured they would be reassigning Bartolo Colon to the bullpen, with an embarrassment of starting-pitching riches further buoyed by the return of Zack Wheeler from Tommy John surgery.
Instead, Matt Harvey has undergone season-ending surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, Steven Matz is on the disabled list with a shoulder strain and the latest Wheeler setback casts doubt on whether he will contribute at all in 2016.
So in a pivotal game Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Mets will have Seth Lugo make his second major league start.