The New York Mets have announced that left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation. Raley's recent performance has been outstanding, maintaining a flawless 0.00 ERA over seven innings pitched this season. However, concerns over his elbow have led to this precautionary move.

Raley last pitched on Friday, throwing 20 pitches in two-thirds of an inning during the Mets' 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is unclear whether Raley had been attempting to pitch through the discomfort after a few days of rest, or if the symptoms worsened after Friday's game.

Interestingly, Raley dealt with a similar issue about a year ago when he found himself on the Mets' 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. Fortunately, he made a quick recovery and was back in action promptly. The Mets and Raley are hopeful that this latest setback will have a similarly short absence, as the left-hander plays a pivotal role as the team's primary left-handed reliever.

With Raley sidelined, Jake Diekman becomes the sole left-hander in the Mets' bullpen. Raley's absence will be felt, considering his solid performance over the course of his Mets career. Since the start of the 2022 season, Raley has posted a 2.58 ERA, an impressive 27.3% strikeout rate, and a manageable nine percent walk rate in 115 1/3 innings.

It is worth noting that despite a 4.78 ERA in 2021 with the Houston Astros, Raley's advanced metrics suggested a level of performance closer to his excellent numbers from 2022 to 2024, making the Mets' decision to sign him to a two-year, $10 million deal in the 2021-22 offseason a savvy move. The Mets acquired Raley through a trade in December 2022 and exercised their $6.5 million club option for the 2024 season last fall.

Raley's presence on the field will be sorely missed during his absence, and the Mets will be closely monitoring his progress to ensure a swift return.