Swollen knee forces Duda to sidelines

SAN DIEGO — The hits keep on coming, not for the Mets lineup, but their mounting injuries. Lucas Duda was scratched from the lineup Monday with swollen right knee after taking a pitch off it in Sunday’s win over the Marlins.

While Duda described it more as a precautionary day off, Terry Collins was more cautious in his expectations, considering he has already lost considerable time from David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud this season.

“I have no idea… it could be,” the Mets manager said of it being a one-day of rest for Duda. “It was real stiff yesterday after the game and late last night. Early today it was real stiff. Treatment has obviously made it a little bit better.”

Duda has been tearing it up, hitting .320 with four home runs and six RBI over his last seven games. He has been largely the only power in the lineup with Wright and d’Arnaud out.

Wright is expected to be in San Diego to see the team on Tuesday. He is in Los Angeles receiving treatment on his lower back. He was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, had an epidural for it last week and is working with the staff of renowned spinal surgeon Robert Watkins there. Collins said they are hopeful that they will have a clearer idea of Wright's timetable this week.

“As for d’Arnaud, who suffered a setback in his rehab from a broken hand last week, he began doing baseball activities again Monday. He suffered a bone bruise during a rehab game.

EVEN BETTER

Noah Syndergaard’s ERA dropped without the rookie right-hander even throwing a pitch. MLB changed a scoring decision from the May 22 game at Pittsburgh, where Gregory Polanco was originally given a single off Noah Syndergaard on what was clearly a Lucas Duda error. The call has been changed to an error. Syndergaard allowed two runs in that inning which will now be both unearned. His ERA is now 1.82. Duda, who said after the game it clearly should have been scored an error, now has one error on the season.

BACK IN BLACK

Vic Black pitched one scoreless inning Sunday night for Double-A Binghamton. He allowed one hit, issued one walk and had one strikeout. He has thrown five scoreless innings for Binghamton, allowing four hits, one walk and he has struck out four in five games.