Asdrubal Cabrera hurts knee, could be headed to Mets’ DL
New York Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (13) is help ny Mets medical staff after he injured himself running around thrid base to score during the first inning of the game at Citi Field on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Asdrubal Cabrera rounded third base in the first inning Sunday and appeared to stumble. Still, he ran hard until he touched the plate. Only then did he reveal his pain.
Cabrera, one of the Mets’ most durable players, could not put weight on his left leg. He had to be helped off the field and might face a stint on the disabled list.
After the Mets’ 6-4 win over the Rockies, manager Terry Collins acknowledged that he is “really concerned” about the injury, which the team said is a strained patellar tendon in his left knee. The Mets won’t know if DL time will be required until Cabrera is examined by doctors Monday.
Judging by appearances, Cabrera could be the latest key Mets player to be shelved. The shortstop suffered the same injury in spring training and was sidelined for nearly three weeks.
Collins drew one key distinction this time around, saying: “We didn’t have to carry him off the field in spring training.”
Cabrera, 30, is hitting .255 and has appeared in 100 of the Mets’ 104 games.
Immediately after the game, Collins hadn’t yet huddled with general manager Sandy Alderson about what the Mets might do if Cabrera goes on the DL.
Wilmer Flores moved to shortstop Sunday and likely will fill in there with Jose Reyes on the DL.
Shortstop Matt Reynolds began the season with the Mets. Though he was hitting only .234 for Triple-A Las Vegas through Saturday, he reportedly was summoned to New York in case Cabrera lands on the DL.
Extra bases
Maligned fifth outfielder Alejandro De Aza, who has struggled off the bench, went 2-for-3 to raise his July average to .375 (12-for-32) . . . With a scoreless eighth, setup man Addison Reed extended his scoreless-innings streak to 16 1⁄3 dating to June 25, which establishes a career high . . . Flores still was fuming about getting drilled in the back by a pitch from Chad Bettis that he believed was intentional. “Only he knows what was his intention, but I got [ticked] for a reason,” Flores said. “He wasn’t wild or anything.” . . . Zack Wheeler is slated to face hitters Tuesday in Port St. Lucie. Facing hitters puts the righthander on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Wheeler is working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
