Mets right-hander Drew Smith was ejected from Tuesday’s Subway Series game for what looked to be a sticky substance on his hand.

The Mets called him in to replace right-hander Jeff Brigham while trailing the Yankees, 7-6, in the top of the seventh inning. But Smith never even made it to the rubber. He was looked at by crew chief Bill Miller and the other umpires conferred while members of the Mets gathered around the group in the infield. Smith pleaded with the umpiring crew while manager Buck Showalter took the field. The pitcher was quickly ejected.

An ejection for a foreign substance or an overly sticky hand carries an automatic 10-game suspension. Right-hander Max Scherzer was previously ejected for the excessive use of rosin earlier April 19, after pitching three innings at Dodger Stadium. The veteran ace considered appealing but ultimately accepted the suspension, citing an unfair appeal process.

Scherzer only missed one start, but it will be much more difficult for the Mets to go without Smith. The 29-year-old Dallas native has struggled as of late having allowed three earned runs over his last three innings, but he’s been counted on by the Mets to pitch in crucial middle-innings situations and has twice been called upon for saves.

The bullpen has started to crumble under the weight of the extra innings it has had to absorb. With closer Edwin Diaz out for the season and a starting staff that regularly fails to even reach the sixth inning, the relief group has gone from being a strength of the club to a weakness.

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