Jay Bruce’s back is a bigger issue than he believed.
After leaving the previous night’s game with back spasms, Bruce was confident he would return Saturday but was scratched from the lineup two hours before a 7-1, 14-inning loss to the Cubs at Citi Field.
Prior to the game, Bruce said his back didn’t loosen up as he expected, and he didn’t start as a precautionary move. Bruce later entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and struck out.
“I’ve got a pretty good pulse on how my body feels, what I can play through and not play through, and stuff like that,” Bruce said before warming up.
Bruce expects to play Sunday and said the injury likely stemmed from improper stretching before playing first base Thursday night.
“I didn’t want to come out [Friday], but I didn’t want to miss extended time,” Bruce said. “It was for the best.”
Next week’s rotation is nearly set and could conclude with Noah Syndergaard taking the mound when the Yankees come to Citi Field.
Syndergaard, currently on the disabled list with a strained ligament in his right index finger, played catch Saturday and could throw a light side session Sunday.
“We’re hoping,” manager Mickey Callaway said of Syndergaard’s potential return next weekend. “That’d be nice against the Yankees.”
Steven Matz will make his scheduled start Sunday after leaving his most recent outing with a strained middle finger. Jason Vargas will take the mound Tuesday against the Orioles, followed by Zack Wheeler.
Callaway said he “gave a ton of thought” to keeping Seth Lugo in the rotation but opted to go with Vargas, who has an 8.53 ERA but threw five shutout innings in his most recent outing.
“The last week and a half has solidified what we feel is Lugo’s true value to our team at this point, and that’s being in the bullpen,” Callaway said. “I think Vargas has shown signs that he’s becoming more of the reasons we got him in the first place.”
Todd Frazier went 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs while playing nine innings with Triple-A Las Vegas. The third baseman has been on the disabled list since May 8 with a left hamstring strain and appears to be nearing a return.
“He’s doing really good,” Callaway said. “When he feels he can come up here and feel comfortable at the plate and on defense, you’ll see him.”
The Mets have homered in nine of their past 10 games, following Michael Conforto’s seventh of the season. … Kevin Plawecki made his first start of the season at first base, having made two appearances there last year. … The Mets canceled their Frazier replica BP pullover giveaway because of a quality-control issue in the production of the shirt.
