Syn throws sim; is set for Subway
NOAH Syndergaard threw approximately 30 pitches off the Citi Field mound Tuesday during a simulated game and is scheduled to come off the disabled list to pitch Sunday night against the Yankees. “Knocked the rust off,” said pitching coach Dave Eiland, who added that as long as Syndergaard’s right index finger doesn’t flare up again he will make his Sunday start. Syndergaard went on the DL last Tuesday, retroactive to May 26, with a strain of the index finger. Syndergaard wasn’t available for comment Tuesday.
Pitching Sunday will have Syndergaard on normal rest after Tuesday’s simulated game, which featured Yoenis Cespedes taking live at-bats for the first time since going on the DL retroactive to May 14 with a strained right hip flexor. Cespedes had a ground-ball single, a couple of flyouts and also fouled a ball off his foot.
Cespedes should perform more activities today, including running the bases.
“He's in a good spot,” Mickey Callaway said after the Mets’ 2-1 loss to Baltimore. “He’ll come in and get some more specific skills going on and see where he’s at after that. He came out of it really good.”
Cespedes again declined to speak with reporters. He hasn’t spoken publicly since he went on the DL, and since then both Callaway and Sandy Alderson have made comments nudging the left fielder to return to the field soon. Alderson said he was “surprised” Cespedes was out this long, and Callaway noted that the team is paying Cespedes a lot of money and he isn’t on the field producing.
BACK INTO THE FRA
Todd Frazier (strained left hamstring) was activated from the DL, started and third base and went 0-for-4 out of the cleanup spot in his return. Frazier, whose DL stint was the first of his career, had been out since May 8.
Frazier returns as the Mets’ offense has been struggling, especially against left-handed pitching. There has been plenty of talk from the Mets about Frazier and Cespedes returning and boosting their lineup, putting Frazier under the spotlight to perform. He entered Tuesday batting .237 with five homers and 21 RBI in 114 at-bats.
“I’ve been in those situations before where guys go down and I have to step up,” Frazier said. “It’s fine with me. I’ve been there. I don’t care. Right now we’ve just got to win games.”
The Mets have a putrid .202 batting average and .576 OPS against lefties, both worst in MLB. This season Frazier is just 4-for-26 with one homer in 31 plate appearances against lefties.
THERE’S A CATCH
Devin Mesoraco (hamstring) didn’t start but is feeling better, according to Callaway.
“Still just soreness in his hamstring. He doesn’t really feel it walking around, stuff like that,” Callaway said. “He could play today. We had an off day, two days in a row and another off day. We had some time to buy him a little bit.” ... Wilmer Flores (back) threw and hit in the batting cage Tuesday but remains without an exact timetable to return. SUSAN WATTS/DAILY NEWS
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