Las Vegas 51s pitcher Robert Gsellman close to return this weekend

Gsellman was called up in June and made one start on June 11 before hitting the disabled list with a quad injury.

“It was good,” Gsellman said. “I’m feeling a lot better and excited to get back out there. It’s pretty boring on the DL.”

Gsellman threw 60 pitches in three simulated innings and then did his conditioning afterward. He’ll participate in pitchers’ fielding practice Tuesday with the rest of the pitchers and will hit on Wednesday. He’s slated to pitch sometime this weekend.

The preference would be for him to start, but there’s a chance he could piggyback and come in in relief.

The 51s have tried to keep him on a five-day schedule to keep his arm ready for his return.

“His arm looks fantastic. I could see why he’s rated in this organization as high as he is,” pitching coach Frank Viola said. “He’s just got a live arm. He’s got good secondary pitches, it’s just a question now of building up the rest of him to go along with the arm, and it was a good sign today because we stretched him out to 60 pitches.”

Gsellman said he originally suffered his quad injury in spring training running sprints but he pitched through it at Double-A Binghamton.

“My IT band was really tight,” Gsellman said. “Really my whole left leg was tight. Everything is feeling a lot better. I’m feeling really good, just like I was at the beginning of the season.”

Though Gsellman pitched through the injury at Double-A and went 3-4 with a 2.71 ERA, manager Wally Backman said he thought it was best to put him on the disabled list after his first start at Las Vegas to make sure he was 100 percent healthy.

“I was just trying to fight through it and they wouldn’t let me do it here, and now I’m feeling really good,” Gsellman said. “I’m kind of glad that I sat out.”

Though Gsellman pitched through the injury at Double-A and went 3-4 with a 2.71 ERA, manager Wally Backman said he thought it was best to put him on the disabled list after his first start at Las Vegas to make sure he was 100 percent healthy.

“I was just trying to fight through it and they wouldn’t let me do it here, and now I’m feeling really good,” Gsellman said. “I’m kind of glad that I sat out.”

LUGO RETURNS

After a brief call-up, Seth Lugo is back with the 51s.

Lugo tossed one scoreless inning with the Mets, giving up a pair of hits and hitting a batter but striking out two.

Lugo had been starting to begin the season, but the 51s moved him to the bullpen in June, a role he will resume, though he had been called upon for a short spot start before his promotion.

“We put him in the bullpen because that’s where we think he’s most valuable and that’s why he got sent to the big leagues,” Backman said. “He did a nice job in the bullpen.”

In the corresponding move, reliever Beck Wheeler was sent back to Double-A Binghamton.

Wheeler threw a scoreless inning in Tacoma, striking out three, and Backman liked what he saw:

“He showed two quality major league swing-and-miss pitches in the three guys he struck out – his curveball and his split-finger.”

In the corresponding move, reliever Beck Wheeler was sent back to Double-A Binghamton.

Wheeler threw a scoreless inning in Tacoma, striking out three, and Backman liked what he saw:

“He showed two quality major league swing-and-miss pitches in the three guys he struck out – his curveball and his split-finger.”

HERRERA EXPECTED BACK

Second baseman Dilson Herrera missed his fifth straight game after being pulled late in last Tuesday’s game.

Herrera has been dealing with hamstring tightness.

Backman said he’s still day-to-day, but he is hoping Herrera can play Tuesday.

Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand.