MORE BAD LUCK

Villar, Familia latest bit by injury bug

field — a looper with an expected batting average of .030, as per Statcast — the two-time Cy Young Award winner might have made a run at his first no-hitter, albeit in shortened, seven-inning form. It might very well be for the best that Almora, who apologized to Rojas for the snafu, didn’t sufficiently communicate out there with Smith, as it allowed deGrom to get out of there after a modest 70 pitches.

DeGrom’s four-seam fastball hit triple digits five times and his slider accounted for three of his six strikeouts. In his one-bat, with teammates on second and third and two outs, he tried to “slap” the ball, as per his words, and flied out to center field. The 33-year-old can march forth confident in the knowledge that his health will become less of a storyline, an especially comforting development on a day the Mets learned that valuable starter Joey Lucchesi might need

Tommy John surgery ... which will give folks more time to contemplate deGrom’s usage or lack thereof of sticky stuff.

The much-awaited search and seizure came off as more comical than dramatic, home plate umpire Ben May looking almost apologetic as he trotted to cut off deGrom, en route to the Mets’ dugout, in foul territory after a 1-2-3 top of the first. Crew chief Ron Kulpa, hustling over from third base, examined deGrom’s glove, cap and belt as deGrom grinned and the Mets faithful booed. Then the cheers erupted as the umpires, convinced of their target’s innocence, told deGrom he was free to go. The process repeated itself in the fifth, and deGrom passed once again, as did his Braves counterpart Kyle Muller in the first and all of the contest’s relievers.

“I didn’t mind it,” deGrom said.

“I was into it. I was really curious,” Rojas admitted. “There’s going to be some innings [when there] might be some emotions, I don’t know. But hopefully everything goes fluid with this process and it keeps good timing.”

How dumb would a pitcher have to be to get caught? It’s not like these umps are replicating Frank Drebin’s thorough examination of the Angels pitcher in “The Naked Gun.” It’ll be interesting to see if teams, long accustomed to the mutual code of silence, act more aggressively if they suspect an opponent is crossing the line.

For the Mets, though, their stud widely believed to not be a chief offender, they faced bigger worries and overcame them. They still have the game’s prime arm, able to pass tests significant and silly.

The Mets returned a key lineup piece Monday but now could be without another.

Jonathan Villar is the latest concern, after he left the Mets’ 1-0 loss to the Braves in Game 2 of a doubleheader with right calf discomfort. Villar doubled in the sixth inning and was slow pulling into second base. Jose Peraza replaced him as a pinch runner. Villar will be evaluated on a daily basis, according to manager Luis Rojas.

Villar’s removal came on the same day Jeff McNeil returned from the IL after a month’s absence. Villar was sidelined earlier this month with a right hamstring strain, but managed to avoid the IL.

After the Mets beat the Braves 4-2 in Game 1 of a doubleheader, the team announced Jeurys Familia — who pitched Sunday in Washington and surrendered one of Kyle Schwarber’s three homers — has a right hip impingement.

Before Game 1, Robert Gsellman was placed on the IL with a right lat tear that will sideline him at least six to eight weeks, according to an industry source.

Yennsy Diaz was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Mets another healthy bullpen arm. Stephen Tarpley was available from the bullpen as the 27th player in the doubleheader.

Gsellman pitched two innings as a starter in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader in Washington and allowed one earned run. Before that start he hadn’t pitched for the Mets since June 8.

“It’s a tough day losing those two guys,” Rojas said. “We’ve had that throughout the season and it’s been a next-man-up kind of approach where guys come in and join the mindset we have here as a team … they have been throwing the ball well for us, both of them.”

Familia has been used in highleverage spots, pitching to a 3.63 ERA in 24 appearances.

“He’s been dealing with [the hip] and trying to pitch through and hoping to get better with different stuff, but it’s something that happens,” Rojas said. “Right now he’s got really good stuff — his arm is in such good shape and his stuff is crisp. Let’s see if he can get this right and he can meet us in 10 days or so.”

Gsellman, who has appeared in 15 games this season and pitched to a 3.71 ERA, dealt with a lat tear near the end of the 2019 season. Familia and Gsellman join Dellin Betances and Tommy Hunter among Mets relievers on the IL.

Tomas Nido departed Game 1 after he was struck in the left wrist by a Shane Greene fastball (X-rays were negative). James McCann caught the final two innings and was behind the plate for the nightcap.