Dominic Smith sits with swollen thumb, will have MRI Monday

PHOENIX — An awkward swing Saturday turned into a swollen right thumb Sunday for Dominic Smith, who is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday in New York.

Smith called his injury a hyperextended thumb and said it occurred when he swung at a high-and-away fastball. “It was a weird swing,” he said. “My bottom hand kind of slipped off the bat and got caught in between my wrists. When I followed through, I only got my top hand through. I hyperextended my thumb a little bit.”

Although he stayed in the game — and homered — Smith woke up sore Sunday. He initially was in the lineup for what would have been his fourth start (sixth game) in leftfield but was scratched after the team’s medical staff decided he shouldn’t play.  Aaron Altherr replaced him.

Smith hopes he’ll be fine to play Tuesday.  “I wanted to play today, but they thought it was best because I haven’t torn a tendon in my thumb before,” he said. “So they didn’t want me to accidentally do anything or re-hurt it or make it linger.”

Smith is hitting .362 with a .471 on-base percentage and .534 slugging percentage, a degree of offensive production that has led to playing time in the outfield — suddenly very frequently — to get his bat in the lineup.   

DeGrom is OK

Jacob deGrom had no ill effects after leaving Saturday’s start with a right hip cramp, and Mickey Callaway had no regrets over pulling him. “They’re never going to tell you they want to come out,” he said. “Sometimes you have to let them hate you for a while.”

Cano hopes to return Tuesday

Robinson Cano likely will be activated Tuesday as the Mets open a homestand, he said Sunday. “That’s the hope,” he said.

He was eligible to come off the injured list Sunday, but Callaway said the Mets “still feel he needs a couple of days.”

Out with a strained left quadriceps since May 23, Cano accompanied the team to Los Angeles and Phoenix, where he ramped up his rehab program. That included running the bases on multiple occasions over the weekend.

“We might run them again Tuesday, see how that goes and then we can go from there,” Cano said. “It’s kind of sad not being out there. I love to play the game. It doesn’t matter for me how good or bad I’m doing. This game, the thing is you always got tomorrow. Looking forward to Tuesday hopefully. I’m tired of sitting, watching games.”

Cano has had a disappointing season, his first  with the Mets. He has career lows in average (.241), on-base percentage (.287) and slugging percentage (.371). The Mets have gone 5-6 in his absence.

“They’ve been up there fighting and winning games,” he said. “Just looking forward to getting back and being part of the team and being able to help it.”

Extra bases

Infielder Ruben Tejada has a .425/.500/.600 slash line in his first 11 games for Triple-A Syracuse. Tejada rejoined the organization on a minor-league deal in late March . . . The Mets have only one more road trip before the All-Star break, from June 17-27 to Atlanta, Chicago (Cubs) and Philadelphia.