Mets option Danny Muno to Triple-A to make room for Dillon Gee

The Mets have optioned infielder Danny Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room on their roster for Dillon Gee, who will return from the disabled list and start tonight in San Diego. In 17 plate appearances with the Mets this year, Muno has hit just .067/.176/.067.

Gee is set to pitch in the series finale against the San Diego Padres tonight as he returns from a mild groin strain that landed him on the disabled list. He has a 3.86 ERA and 3.87 FIP in five starts with the Mets this year. When the Mets placed Gee on the disabled list, they promoted Noah Syndergaard, who struggled lsat night but has a 3.77 ERA and 2.41 FIP through his first five major league starts.

Rather than demote Syndergaard or move Gee or another starting pitcher to the bullpen, the Mets will now use a six-man starting rotation, an experiment designed to keep each pitcher's workload limited over the course of the season. That leaves the Mets with a four-man bench.