Zac Gallen aims to send Diamondbacks to series win vs. Mets

The Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets ended April with winning records.

But the last day of the month offered reminders that the rest of the season will present both teams with plenty of challenges.

The Diamondbacks and Mets will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday afternoon in New York.

Zac Gallen (1-4, 5.57 ERA) is slated to start for the Diamondbacks against the Mets’ Kodai Senga (3-1, 1.26) in a battle of right-handers.

Geraldo Perdomo recorded the go-ahead, two-run, pinch-hit single in the seventh inning Wednesday, and Ryan Thompson wriggled out of a ninth-inning jam to preserve the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 win.

Thompson was called upon to earn his first save of the season after struggling closer Justin Martinez allowed a leadoff homer to Tyrone Taylor and walked Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto.

The subpar outing continued a disturbing trend for Martinez, whose fastball topped out at about 96 mph Wednesday night. That represents a dip from his average velocity last season, when he posted a 2.48 ERA and recorded eight saves while striking out 91 batters over 72 2/3 innings.

Martinez pitched just twice in an eight-game span from April18-26 while dealing with right shoulder fatigue. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday he had “minimal concern” over Martinez’s velocity, but he had a different viewpoint Wednesday night when he said it was possible Martinez would undergo testing or be placed on the injured list.

“We definitely know that things aren’t the same right now,” Lovullo said. “And we’re going to figure that out with him.”

An absence for Martinez would further tax a bullpen that already is without left-hander A.J. Puk, who has four saves but is expected to be out until at least June with a flexor strain.

At 21-10, the Mets are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors.

But New York’s left-handed bullpen depth took another hit before the first pitch Wednesday when Danny Young was placed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained elbow. Manager Carlos Mendoza said following the game that Tommy John surgery is possible for Young, who has 13 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings this season.

Fellow southpaw A.J. Minter, who recorded a 1.64 ERA in his first 13 outings, could miss the rest of the season with a strained left lat he sustained while pitching against the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

“That’s about as bad of timing as you can get, huh?” Young said. “It’s unfortunate.”

The only healthy left-hander in the Mets’ bullpen is Brandon Waddell, who returned to the majors for the first time in almost four years Wednesday and tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings as a bulk reliever. But that workload makes him a likely candidate to be sent down for a fresh arm Thursday.

Gallen took the loss in his most recent outing last Friday after allowing three runs over five innings as the Diamondbacks fell to the Atlanta Braves 8-2. Senga didn’t factor into the decision Friday after he gave up two runs over six innings in the Mets’ 5-4 loss to the Nationals.

Gallen is 0-2 with a 3.77 ERA in seven career starts against the Mets. Senga is 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA in two starts versus the Diamondbacks.

–Field Level Media