While it was expected that Lucas Duda would return to the lineup on Thursday, the Mets first baseman continues to remain out of action with a stiff back.
“There’s a concern,” Terry Collins said about Duda after saying it was not a big deal on Tuesday.
“He got some medicine last night. The trainers and doctors feel that in another 24 hours they’ll have a better determination of if it’s going to work and how he’s going to feel.”
“He doesn’t feel much better today than he did yesterday. The one thing I’m not going to do is aggravate it to the point where it bothers his swing.”
No MRI has been ordered for Duda on his back as of yet according to reporters.
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Mets first basemen Lucas Duda has missed the past two games with a stiff back. However, Duda spoke to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on Wednesday and expressed his desire to play Thursday.
“It’s just a little tightness, but it should be out of there pretty soon, and I’ll be back in the lineup hopefully [Thursday],” Duda said. He went on to describe his condition as “probably better,” in comparison to how he felt Wednesday.
The Mets faced lefties Tuesday and Thursday, so giving Duda a couple games off to let his back improve ended up working out. The Mets won both games anyway. However, last year’s Mets home run leader still leaves a void in the lineup when absent.
“Tomorrow, I need you,” Terry said on what he told Duda. “I’m just hoping that an extra day, that second day to let him loosen it up more, maybe he’s going to be fine.”
With the afternoon game tomorrow, we will know bright and early whether Duda is feeling well enough to start tomorrow against RHP Eddie Butler.
