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(Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

The New York Mets are off to a very poor start to the 2026 season. 

At 9-16, just one game from the bottom of the NL East, changes need to be made to a roster looking for a fresh arm.

The Mets have called up right-hander Carl Edwards Jr., optioning last night’s starter, Christian Scott, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Since there were two 40-man roster spots already open, there will be no other corresponding move.

Scott pitched just 1.1 innings in last night’s start, walking five batters and plunking another. He will have to work on his control in the minors.

What Will Edwards Jr. Bring to the New York Mets?

The Texas Rangers selected Edwards Jr. in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. The Chicago Cubs would trade for him, and he would debut with them in 2015.

In five seasons with Chicago, Edwards Jr. pitched to a 3.30 ERA, winning a World Series with the Cubs in 2016.

Overall, in his 11 major league seasons, he has pitched in 300 games and has a 3.56 ERA.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds, he has a slight build, but can still ramp up the fastball in the mid-90’s.

He also has a great curveball that no batter had registered a hit off of in 2025 with the Rangers, per Baseball Savant.

In Triple-A Syracuse during the 2026 season, Edwards Jr. has worked exclusively as a starter. In four starts (17 innings), he has pitched to a 5.29 ERA, with 13 strikeouts and 11 walks.

Although he has never started a major league game, he can provide length in a time of great need for the Mets’ bullpen.

Due to Scott’s short start, the bullpen is tired. Tobias Myers and David Peterson each threw over 40 pitches in long relief and will be unavailable to pitch today.

What Does This Mean for the Starting Staff?

Scott will likely not be available to start the next time his name is called in the rotation. So, who do the Mets call upon in this situation?

Since Peterson and Myers were starters with the Mets earlier this year, one of them will likely be in the rotation. Sean Manaea could also be in the fold, but has not started a game this year.

Peterson made the All-Star roster as a starter in 2025 with a 3.06 first-half ERA. However, he had a terrible 6.34 ERA in 12 second-half starts. It would be best to keep him in long relief.

In six games (four starts), Peterson has pitched to a 5.06 ERA in 26.2 innings.

As for Myers, he was a solid starter with the Milwaukee Brewers, accumulating a 3.15 ERA in 49 games (31 starts). He was traded, along with starter Freddy Peralta, to the Mets for prospects.

In eight games with the Mets (one start), Myers has pitched to a 2.60 ERA in 17.1 innings.

While Manaea has the most starting experience of the trio, he owns a 4.09 career ERA in 248 games (210 starts).

Manaea has appeared in five games this season, pitching to a 4.50 ERA in 16 innings.

This will be a spot to watch as the Mets try to get out of the early hole they’ve dug themselves into.