Mets put Jose Reyes on disabled list; Wilmer Flores avoids it
Mets' Jose Reyes returns to the dugout after he struck out on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Mets placed Jose Reyes on the disabled list Thursday with soreness in his left oblique. Infielder Matt Reynolds was summoned from Triple-A Las Vegas and plugged into the starting lineup at third base against the Yankees.
Manager Terry Collins said Reynolds could receive an extended look. “He is in our particular situation right now our best third base guy that we have,” Collins said. “So you’ll see him tonight at third, and perhaps more of it.”
The move fits within the Mets’ goal of evaluating their younger players as they look to get back in contention in 2018. Reynolds, 26, is in his fourth stint with the team this season but has yet to receive consistent playing time.
Entering Thursday night, Reynolds was hitting .204 with a homer and two RBIs in 37 games. After returning to the minors on Aug. 1 following his last demotion, he hit .346 with Triple-A Las Vegas.
Reyes, 34, has dealt with oblique issues in the past, including last season. He felt discomfort on his first swing on Tuesday night against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. Reyes thought he could play through the condition and reported to the park on Wednesday intending to remain in the lineup.
“I felt something, but I wasn’t thinking it was going to be a big deal,” Reyes said. “And then yesterday when I came here, I went outside to take BP. After my second round, I could not go. I felt something wrong there and I had to shut it down.”
Reyes was scratched 90 minutes before Wednesday night’s game along with Wilmer Flores, who also felt soreness in his left rib cage. The Mets determined that Flores could avoid a DL stint after putting him through tests on Thursday.
The Mets also promoted infielder Gavin Cecchini and demoted reliever Kevin McGowan, who did not appear in a game for the Mets after his promotion on Saturday.
Extra bases
Jeurys Familia (blood clot) tossed a scoreless inning in his rehab appearance with Class A St. Lucie on Wednesday. Collins said he could appear in another game on Sunday . . . Matt Harvey (stress injury) emerged from his rehab game with Class A Brooklyn on Wednesday with no issues. He remains in line to make another rehab start.
