NEW YORK -- The New York Mets have surged into the second National League Wild Card spot by posting the best record in the majors since June 1. Their bullpen, however, remains a glaring weakness, and the need for upgrades with Tuesday's trade deadline looming only grew with a series of moves ahead of Kodai Senga's season debut Friday night against the Atlanta Braves.
Dedniel Nunez, an out-of-nowhere pillar for the Mets' relief corps, was placed on the injured list with a right pronator strain. Meanwhile, veteran reliever Shintaro Fujinami, who was expected to bolster the bullpen when he signed for $3.