After Carlos Mendoza Andy Etchebarren Jersey warmed up Adrian Houser in the ninth inning Tuesday to potentially protect an overused bullpen, the Mets now are planning to start Joey Lucchesi on Wednesday night in Philadelphia, The Post has learned. The Mets did not announce the decision following at Citi Field. But the choice they were strongly favoring was to summon Lucchesi to make his first appearance of 2024, sources told The Post. Adrian Houser Getty Images Houser was pulled from the rotation after his ERA climbed to 5.23 in a May 2 start against the Cubs. With the Mets in a period in which they are playing 13 straight days and 26 times in 27 days, Houser was Wednesday. Explore More But the Mets pen has been deployed a lot recently. Mendoza had hoped to stay away from using Sean Reid-Foley for a second straight day and third time in four days, but felt he had no place else to turn with a 2-0 deficit in the ninth Tuesday. But once Reid-Foleys pitch count began to mount while allowing the Phillies two runs, Houser began to warm up. He got hot enough in preparation that he was no longer considered an option for Wednesdays start despite never getting into Tuesdays game. Joey Lucchesi JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Instead, Lucchesi, who last pitched last Wednesday for Syracuse, was now expected to be promoted to make the start. In seven Triple-A starts this season, the lefty has a 2.58 ERA. Lucchesi was 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA last year in nine starts with the Mets. The Mets held off on activating Drew Smith from the injured list, according to Mendoza, because of the need for length in the bullpen. Yohan Ramirez was available to provide multiple innings if needed in that role. Ramirez pitched a scorele s sixth inning. Joey Wendle received the start at second base with Jeff McNeil still struggling to find consistency offensively. McNeil, who delivered a pinch-hit bloop double against Aaron Nola in the ninth inning, entered the day with a .190/.261/.190 slash line in May. Hes probably pre sing a little bit, trying to do too much especially when hes chasing so much, Mendoza said. I think its a hitter going through it right now. It just feels like hes trying to put the ball in play like weak contact early in counts and then chasing a lot. Bryce Harper mi sed the game with a migraine. He was scratched just 20 minutes before first pitch, according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson. Thomson added that Harpers headache was unrelated to getting hit in the head Monday night, when Tomas Nido inadvertently threw the ball off the side of Harpers helmet with Harper at the plate. It had nothing to do with it, Thomson said of Mondays incident. Thomson added Harper has gotten migraines before and was fine later in the game. He was on the bench and available to pinch hit. Without Harper at first base, Alec Bohm was shifted from third base to first, and Whit Merrifield was plugged in to play third. Additional reporting by Dan Martin. Mike Mussina Jersey