Maybe Mike has left woes behind

Michael Conforto had five hits off left-handed pitchers last season. He has three off southpaws already this spring. He hit an opposite-field single off Cardinals lefty Brett Cecil in the Mets’ 6-1 loss at Roger Dean Stadium Wednesday. He went 2-for-3 Wednesday and is 7-for-13 this spring. The success against lefties is part of the overall change in his swing, Terry Collins said.

“He’s just putting good swings on the ball. The whole theory behind hitting is put a good swing on the ball, you make contact and you’ve got a good chance of getting hits,” the Mets manager said. “Right now, he’s swinging as well as he has in a long time. He’s swinging flat, through the ball and he’s staying on the pitches.”

Conforto is playing for a spot on the major-league roster. With Yoenis Cespedes locked in at left field and Jay Bruce basically penciled into right, the Mets are considering starting Conforto in Triple-A. The 24-year-old came into camp knowing his spot was on the line and has reshaped his body, losing seven pounds, and simplified his swing.

So far there have been results. He is hitting .538 with two homers and three RBI.

After injections in both his hips and a back spasm, Lucas Duda was able to swing a bat again for the first time. The first baseman, who missed 107 games last season with a fracture in his spine, was shut down for five days but feels he has plenty of time to get ready for the opener.

“I don’t want to say it will be a day or two (before being back in games) and then have it take three or four,” Duda said. “But I felt great.”