Tim Byrdak (knee) is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Saturday.

Byrdak underwent knee surgery on March 13 but hasn't been ruled out for Opening Day. Daniel Herrera is expected take his place on the roster as a left-handed specialist if he needs more time.

Tim Byrdak (knee) threw a bullpen session Thursday for a second straight day.

Byrdak is holding out hope for be ready for Opening Day, despite undergoing knee surgery two weeks ago, but he's more likely to return after the first series of the season. Danny Herrera could make the Opening Day roster if he needs more time.

Tim Byrdak threw a bullpen session Wednesday for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee two weeks ago.

Byrdak made it through the session without any apparent issues. Early estimates had the veteran southpaw missing the first month of the season, but he's currently hoping to return as soon as April 9.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Tuesday that Tim Byrdak (knee) could be ready to return by the second series of the season.

Byrdak underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, but he hopes to throw off a mound for the first time Wednesday. He won't be ready for the start of the season, but the Mets are reluctant to include minor league left-hander Josh Edgin on the Opening Day roster if he'll need to be sent right back down to the minors a few days later. Garrett Olson is a possibility to make the team if they want a lefty out of the bullpen on day one.

Tim Byrdak is aiming to throw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since having knee surgery.

It was not a major procedure, and the hope is that Byrdak will be ready to join the Mets' bullpen by the end of April. "Even the day after the surgery they said, 'Wow, it looks great,'" he told reporters recently.

Tim Byrdak (knee surgery) wrote on his Twitter account Thursday that he will start playing catch Friday.

Byrdak underwent surgery early last week to repair torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee. The veteran southpaw hopes to get back on a mound next week, but he's cutting things really close to be ready for Opening Day. Garrett Olson would likely take his place as the lefty specialist if he needs some extra recovery time.

Tim Byrdak (knee surgery) is still hoping to be ready by Opening Day.

It's probably unrealistic, as the Mets are still anticipating that the recovery period will take longer. Perhaps we will see him before the original timetable of late April, though. Garrett Olson is viewed as the favorite to assume Byrdak's spot as the lone left-hander in the Mets bullpen.

Tim Byrdak underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

As expected. Byrdak is expected to miss approximately six weeks, so non-roster players Garrett Olson and Chuck James are suddenly the favorites to fill his spot as the team's left-handed specialist. Daniel Herrera and prospect left-hander Robert Carson are also possibilities.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday that left-hander Tim Byrdak (knee) will miss six weeks.

Byrdak was diagnosed with a torn meniscus on Monday in New York and is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday to have it repaired. The Mets have promoted left-hander Josh Edgin from minor league camp.

Tim Byrdak will undergo meniscus surgery Tuesday.

Byrdak flew back to New York this weekend to have his knee examined by team doctor Struan Coleman, and the diagnosis was a torn meniscus. He was expected to serve as the Mets' lone left-handed reliever this year, but he'll be out for at least the first month of the season. The Mets may need to do some shopping.

Tim Byrdak will have his left knee examined Monday by team doctor Struan Coleman.

"We'll go from there and see what's going on," Byrdak said. "It was something, working out in the offseason, there was a little discomfort." As it stands right now, Byrdak is expected to be the lone left-hander in the Mets bullpen. Should his injury require a DL stint, it might open up the possibility of guys like Garrett Olson, Chuck James or Daniel Herrera making the team.

Tim Byrdak is currently nursing a left knee injury.

The Mets haven't said how long it will sideline the left-hander, but the ailment doesn't seem to be anything significant. Byrdak posted a 3.82 ERA and 47/19 K/BB ratio over 37 2/3 innings last season and is expected to open this year as the team's lone left-handed reliever.

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Tim Byrdak will make $1 million next season.

Byrdak signed a one-year extension with the Mets in September, but details were not announced. The 38-year-old posted a 3.82 ERA and 47/19 K/BB ratio over 37 2/3 innings this season and will serve as the Mets' primary left-handed specialist again in 2012.

Mets signed LHP Tim Byrdak to a one-year extension.

Financial details have not been disclosed, but the deal is confirmed. Byrdak, who signed a minor league deal with the Mets prior to the season, has had a nice year, posting a 2.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 68 appearances. He's been especially tough against lefties, limiting them to a .204/.257/.323 slash line. The 37-year-old should resume a left-handed specialist role in next year's bullpen.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson said the Mets are close to signing Tim Byrdak to a one-year extension.

"I'd say it's likely," the GM said. Now that the Mets have their big fish fried, they can focus on the little things like re-signing Jose Reyes. In all seriousness, Byrdak has had a nice year, posting a 2.95 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 rate over 68 games this season. It's not clear at this point how much the southpaw will get in the deal.

Tim Byrdak notched his fourth career save in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

Jason Isringhausen and Bobby Parnell were unavailable Tuesday, so Mets manager Terry Collins relied on Manny Acosta, Ryota Igarashi, Pedro Beato and Byrdak for the final four innings of the ballgame. Byrdak entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and struck out Jay Bruce to end it. The veteran southpaw has done a fine job out of the Mets' bullpen this season, posting a 3.51 ERA and 30/13 K/BB ratio over 25 2/3 innings. He could be trade bait leading up to the deadline.

Tim Byrdak will leave the Mets after Saturday's game to deal with a family illness.

He could be absent for a few days, leaving the Mets without a lefty in their bullpen. Byrdak has posted a 4.70 ERA and 19/7 K/BB ratio over 15 1/3 innings this season.

Mets purchased the contract of LHP Tim Byrdak from Triple-A Buffalo.

Byrdak won a spot in the Mets' season-opening bullpen with ease this spring, firing 8 1/3 scoreless frames against a 6/1 K/BB ratio. He'll serve as a lefty specialist.

Mets manager Terry Collins said that Tim Byrdak is now one of the front-runners for making the Opening Day roster.

D.J. Carrasco and Taylor Buchholz are the other leading candidates, while Taylor Tankersley, Mike O'Connor, and Oliver Perez will have their work cut out for them. Byrdak has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in four straight seasons, and last year lefties hit a measly .213 against him. He will serve as a left-handed specialist if he makes the team.

Mets signed LHP Tim Byrdak to a minor league contract.

Byrdak will also be invited to spring training, where he will attempt to win a spot as a lefty specialist in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen. He held left-handed batters to a .213/.271/.373 batting line last year. He'll compete with Taylor Tankersley this spring for a lefty specialist gig.