NEW YORK -- Is New York Mets outfielder Juan Lagares headed to the disabled list? A doctor’s visit Thursday could determine the answer.
On Wednesday, Lagares was poised to make his first start since partially tearing a ligament in his left thumb while making a diving catch in Miami on June 4. Instead, Lagares was scratched from the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“He hit in the cages, took a little break, and right before batting practice he walked in and said, ‘I don’t think I can play tonight,’” manager Terry Collins said. “During the time between he hit and when he kind of cooled down a little bit, his hand got real, real sore and real stiff and he couldn’t close his hand.”
Lagares had appeared in four games since Thursday off the bench, but none of those involved more than one plate appearance. Lagares described the thumb as feeling “OK” during those games. However, he added that he felt something an hour or two afterward on those occasions.
Assistant general manager John Ricco indicated last week that if Lagares is unable to play through the injury, surgery likely would be required.
Asked if he might now require surgery, Lagares said: “I don’t know for sure. I want to talk to the doctors tomorrow and let’s see what’s going to happen.”
One thing is clear: Collins does not continually want to play shorthanded. Neil Walker was unavailable again Wednesday because of lower-back discomfort. And Michael Conforto's availability was murky because of a left-wrist issue. Conforto received a cortisone injection Monday and struck out as a pinch hitter Tuesday.
“We certainly can’t be three men down like we were tonight,” Collins said.
Collins believes Walker actually might be able to return to the lineup for Thursday's series finale. Walker has been sidelined since departing Saturday’s game in Milwaukee.
“He got some medication, which helped,” Collins said postgame Wednesday about Walker. “I just talked to him before I walked in here. He said, ‘Right now, I’d like to play tomorrow.’ And I said, ‘Well, if there’s any doubts, you’ve got to give me a heads up.’ He said, ‘If there is, I’ll give you a call early in the morning.’ So hopefully he’s in the lineup tomorrow.”
