NEW YORK -- Mets reliever Rafael Montero was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday in order to work up to a spot start for New York on April 28 at Miami.
Manager Terry Collins said this is a one-time outing meant to give the starters an extra day of rest between starts. He emphasized the Mets are not going to a six-man rotation.
"Don't read any more into it than that," Collins said before New York hosted the Marlins. "Everybody backs up one turn, and we'll make decisions as we go."
The organization has said it plans to give ace Matt Harvey extra days off throughout the season in his return from Tommy John surgery. This would be the first spot.
Also, Dillon Gee, who could be traded, has not pitched well in his first two starts, going 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA, and Montero eventually could take his spot.
Collins did not rule out that Montero, who competed for a starting spot in spring training but began the season in the bullpen -- he has a 4.15 ERA in four outings -- could start again with the current rotation.
New York selected the contract of infielder Danny Muno to fill Montero's spot on the roster, giving the Mets a five-man bench.