ATLANTA — The Mets didn’t trade Devin Williams at last week’s deadline but will still have to navigate the ninth inning — at least for a few weeks — without him. 

An already largely untested bullpen, which subtracted four key veterans before the deadline, has another hole to fill after Williams was placed on the injured list Monday with a right shoulder strain. 

The right-hander had arm fatigue last week before returning to pitch Friday. Jonathan Pintaro was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Williams’ roster spot. 

“He has been dealing with a little bit of shoulder fatigue for a little while now, something he felt confident he could pitch through,” interim manager Andy Green said. “You appreciate the warrior mentality to step on the mound and continue to compete for us, but after the last outing it just made sense for us to get an MRI and get it checked.” 

Williams, who arrived on a three-year contract worth $51 million, has pitched to a 4.66 ERA with 16 saves in 42 appearances this season. In his outing Friday against the Pirates, he surrendered two earned runs on three hits while recording the save. 

Williams’ strain, according to Green, isn’t considered serious and the Mets are hopeful he will return this season. Green placed a timeline of a “few weeks” for Williams to potentially begin throwing again. 

Mets pitcher Devin Williams delivers during the ninth inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh on Aug. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

“I know he wants to compete for us again before the year is out,” Green said. “He wants to get on the mound and finish strong.” 

The IL stint occurs a week after the team dealt A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán at the trade deadline. 

Green said the closer’s role will remain fluid in Williams’ absence but acknowledged that Kodai Senga is a candidate to receive a shot. Senga has shifted to higher-leverage relief situations since the bullpen’s overhaul. Entering Monday he had pitched two shutout innings in higher-leverage spots over the past week. 

Senga’s struggles as a starter prompted his shift to middle-relief role last month. The right-hander began play with an 8.29 ERA overall. 

“From my vantage point, he’s attacked those two innings [in high leverage] that he’s had really well, and that is encouraging to see,” Green said. “We have seen an uptick in velocity, saw a couple of punch-outs last time, so we are encouraged about that.” 

Green was asked about his desire to see Senga, who is signed through next season, in the closer’s role. 

“It’s as high leverage as it gets in those situations, but he threw an eighth [inning] the other day right at the heart of their lineup at the tightest spot of the game,” Green said. “That to me is as much leverage as the ninth inning. We will see how it plays out in the coming days.” 

The new cast includes lefties Nate Lavender and Jefry Yan and right-hander Dedniel Núñez, who returned last week from Tommy John surgery rehab. The Mets have received a boost from Daniel Duarte, who had pitched to a 1.17 ERA in 11 appearances, entering play. Yan, who possesses triple-digit heat, has gained attention for his post-strikeout celebrations. 

“Right now, it depends on the pocket,” Green said of his plans at closer. “I think there’s three or four guys that given the context of the game it makes sense to face certain hitters and I am confident in the makeup of the human that they will be able to handle the moment.”