Mets hoping to soon put Opening Day lineup on field together
New York Mets' Asdrubal Cabrera runs to first on a single during the first inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: AP / Jeff Roberson
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With exactly one week until the regular season begins, the Mets hope to trot out something resembling their expected Opening Day lineup for the first time this spring.
Until now, various dings, dents and preventive measures have kept many of the regulars from sharing the same field, from Asdrubal Cabrera’s bothersome left knee to David Wright’s plan to ease himself into games.
But against the Nationals on Sunday, manager Terry Collins hopes to write out a lineup card filled with familiar names.
“They’re going to play this week,” Collins said after Saturday’s 3-3 tie with the Braves.
Cabrera was 2-for-5 with a single and double in a minor-league game on Saturday, keeping him on track to play against the Nationals on Sunday. He’ll man shortstop for the first time since straining a tendon in his left knee.
Wright will play for the third time in four games and should see plenty of action in the closing days of camp. His schedule has been slowed to help manage his back condition, spinal stenosis.
Yoenis Cespedes also is expected to play, though he recently complained of what Collins called “a little twinge” in his right shoulder after making a throw from the outfield on Thursday. Tests revealed no underlying injury.
Lucas Duda brushed off recent neck stiffness. “I’ll play tomorrow,” the first baseman said. “It’s no big deal.”
Leftfielder Michael Conforto has reported improvement every day since Wednesday, when back spasms forced him out of a game. Collins hopes he will return to the lineup on Sunday.
“Definitely feel a lot better and a lot looser,” Conforto said. “And so I’m just anxious right now a little bit.”
Extra bases
Reliever Erik Goeddel tossed a scoreless inning against the Braves in his second outing since returning from a lat strain. But the righthander struggled with his command, particularly with his secondary pitches. “It’s still not quite midseason consistency,” said Goeddel, who hopes to seize the final opening in the bullpen . . . Neil Walker homered in a minor-league game on Saturday . . . The Mets (7-13-4) extended their franchise record with their fourth tie. They have not won since March 17, a winless streak of nine games.
