Overview

• Tong is slated to start Friday at Citi Field against Miami and fellow right-hander Eury Pérez, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
• President of baseball operations David Stearns cited Tong’s elevated fastball and a newly effective changeup as key reasons he is ready.
• The right-hander led the minors this year in ERA, strikeouts, batting average against and strikeout rate after opening at Double A Binghamton.
• In two Triple-A outings for Syracuse, he threw 11.2 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts, eight hits allowed and three walks.
• The Mets sought a sixth starter to give the rotation extra rest during the schedule crunch and currently hold the final NL wild-card position.