The Mets have two more reasons to believe in a turnaround.
Third baseman Todd Frazier will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday, at the start of the two-game series against the Orioles, along with reliever Anthony Swarzak.
Frazier, who went 4-for-9 in a three-game rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas over the weekend, will be making his first appearance since suffering a left hamstring strain May 7.
Frazier, 32, has batted .237, with five home runs, in his first season with the Mets, who have gone 9-15 in his absence.
“We need to get some of our key pieces back,” said manager Mickey Callaway, also mentioning the injured Yoenis Cespedes. “We’re missing our two main right-handed bats, so the struggles against lefties have been real for a reason because we’ve been missing some key figures.
“Right now we’re just trying to hold the fort down until those guys get back, and then we’ll be in a good place … and can start trying to get on a roll again.”
Swarzak, who has been out since March 31, will provide immediate depth for the majors’ 26th-ranked bullpen.
After posting a career-best 2.33 ERA last season, the 32-year-old was signed to a two-year deal, but he appeared in just two games with the Mets, before suffering an oblique injury.
Swarzak made three appearances with Triple-A Las Vegas in the past week, going 2-0, while allowing three runs in 2 ²/₃ innings.
The Mets bullpen has combined for a 4.62 ERA this season, and allowed 30 home runs, which is tied for the third-most in the majors.
Over the past 11 games, the relievers have combined to go 1-8 with a 7.94 ERA, while AJ Ramos (shoulder) remains day-to-day, and hasn’t resumed throwing yet. Ramos has been out since May 26.
Cespedes is scheduled to take “live at-bats” Tuesday afternoon for the first time since hitting the disabled list. The outfielder has been out since May 13 with a strained right hip flexor, and could return without a rehab assignment.
Noah Syndergaard threw a light side session Sunday for the first time since landing on the disabled list with a strained ligament in his right index finger, and is scheduled to throw to batters Tuesday. If there are no setbacks, he could return Sunday to face the Yankees.
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