LAKELAND, Fla. — Brandon Nimmo can skip the cooking classes.
A culture performed by the Mets’ medical staff revealed the outfielder had a virus, according to manager Mickey Callaway, and not food poisoning — as was originally believed when Nimmo became ill earlier in the week.
Nimmo prepared dinner for himself on Tuesday and thought he had perhaps undercooked the chicken. Nimmo spent the night vomiting and lost about four pounds. On Friday, he was absent from a third straight exhibition game.
Callaway indicated he expects Nimmo back in the lineup on Saturday, but it’s unclear whether he will be the designated hitter or receive a start in the outfield.
Nimmo’s lone start in the exhibition season has come at DH after he incurred soreness in his throwing shoulder early in camp. Nimmo has been on a throwing program to strengthen the shoulder.
Jacob deGrom peaked at 99 mph on the radar gun in his three shutout innings against the Tigers. The Mets ace allowed only a third-inning double to Mikie Mahtook. DeGrom peaked at 97 mph in his first start of the spring on Sunday.
Callaway said it’s “uncomfortable for me” watching deGrom throw 99 mph this early, but said he can deal with it.
Dominic Smith seems intent on turning the first-base competition into a legit battle with Pete Alonso. Smith went 2-for-3 against the Tigers with two singles and is 5-for-8 (.625) to begin the exhibition season.
“They told me in the offseason I have a legitimate shot of making the club if I handle my business and came into spring and worked hard,” Smith said. “That is what I have pretty much tried to do all offseason and carry the last month of last season into spring and the rest of the season.”
Callaway credited Smith’s approach of staying back on pitches instead of trying to strictly pull the ball.
“He’s making a big statement,” Callaway said, “He is going out there relaxed, he is playing great defense, he is putting great swings on the ball.”
Jeff McNeil took live batting practice and is expected back in Saturday’s lineup. McNeil had been sidelined from three exhibition games because of a scrape on his wrist.
After a lackluster Grapefruit League debut, Robert Gsellman fired two shutout innings of relief behind deGrom in the Mets’ 7-1 exhibition victory over the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Gsellman allowed two hits and struck out one.
Tim Tebow nearly made a running grab on Mikie Mahtook’s line drive to left field in the third inning, but the ball — which was catchable — hit off his glove for a double.
Amed Rosario’s power surge to begin the Grapefruit League season continued with a homer leading off the game. Rosario smashed two doubles Wednesday.
Saturday’s schedule: Noah Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia are among the pitchers scheduled to face the Astros in Port St. Lucie. Justin Verlander is scheduled to pitch for Houston.
