Lucas Duda was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with what the Mets are calling lower-back stiffness, a continuation of the same injury that had him out of the starting lineup for six games last week.
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Duda missed six straight starts on the Mets’ last homestand because of the back, but was healthy enough to play two games against the Orioles earlier this week.
He was forced to depart Friday’s game after his back locked up, and the issue is obviously not just something that was going to take a coupled days of rest.
The first baseman will receive a second opinion Monday from Dr. Robert Watkins, the same doctor whom Wright consulted with before beginning his rehab assignment.
Duda has been one of New York’s best offensive players all season, and particularly in the second half.
Collins said the fact Wright is returning and the Mets have added established hitters such as Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Johnson doesn’t make the Duda injury much easier to accept. “It happens”, Duda said. I think it’s obvious we need to give it more time. “While he was cleared to play last time, obviously it was something that reoccurred”. Daniel Murphy, Michael Cuddyerand Kelly Johnsonlikely will share first-base duties in Duda’s absence.
When Collins came out to check, Niese appeared to have trouble clenching his first, but stayed in the game to later give up a two-run homer to Charlie Blackmon that ended his night.
“He gives us a dimension we don’t have”, Collins said.
The Mets are enjoying their newfound offense, and have opened up a five-game lead in the National League East as a result.
Cuddyer had been relegated to playing against lefties since returning from the DL two weeks ago, but now could see more action against righties.
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“We got a lot of pieces”. He was a huge piece of our lineup for a while. “Daily things we are challenged with right now, [and] we will have to continue to make the right moves”.
