Reyes latest to sit out with rib cage injury
USA TODAY
CONSIDERING all the injuries the Mets have had, there was no way Terry Collins was going to take a risk with Jose Reyes on Sunday, even if the shortstop insisted he was fine and wanted to play.
After originally penciling him in for Sunday’s game, which turned out to be a 12-5 loss to the Angels, Collins scratched Reyes because of a tight left rib cage, which Reyes said occurred on two check swings in his first plate appearance during Saturday’s game. Reyes said it didn't get worse during that game. Reyes suffered a cracked rib two years ago.
“With what's happened here, we’re not taking a chance,” Collins said. “I don't think it’s anything serious. Day game after a night game, big night (Saturday) night, a lot of running the bases, a lot of swings. You guys know this guy's seven percent body fat, wound pretty tight. He wanted to play, believe me, he wanted to play. Said ‘I think I’ll be OK.’ I said, ‘You haven't been paying attention to what’s going on here. Every time we play somebody with a tweak, we end up losing them for three weeks. So you’re not playing today.”
Reyes said before the game he indeed had a backand-forth with Collins.
“I came today with the attitude I’m gonna play, but they don’t let me,” said Reyes, who clearly wasn’t concerned with his rib cage. Collins said Reyes will be fine for Tuesday’s game after the Mets’ off day Monday.
Matt Reynolds started for Reyes and hit a solo homer.
CABRERA CLOSE
Asdrubal Cabrera took swings in the batting cage Saturday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb. The shortstop said the thumb felt fine after testing it and hopes to be back when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. That would be Friday, but a Mets source said they would be cautious. “We don’t need that thing flaring up again,” the source said. “We’ll see on Friday.”
NO YOENIS YET
The Mets had hoped to have Yoenis Cespedes back for the start of the series against the Padres Tuesday, but the source said that is “unlikely,” because Cespedes has not advanced through the running program enough.
Travis d’Arnaud will also not be returning for the start of the three-game series against the Padres. He is scheduled to catch Steven Matz’s next rehab appearance on Tuesday for Las Vegas at Round Rock. D’Arnaud went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI and caught nine innings on Sunday in his fourth rehab appearance since going on the disabled list May 3 with a bruised right wrist. … In addition to Matz, Seth Lugo will make a rehab start Tuesday for Port St. Lucie.
Tim Tebow hit an opposite-field blast for the Columbia Fireflies Sunday, his third home run of the season, snapping a 31-game homerless drought.
— With Kristie Ackert