Terry Collins says David Wright will rest his back Saturday

New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) drops the infield fly in the 8th inning on the ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) against the Philadelphia Phillies during the Mets' home opener on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Citi Field. Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The Mets intend to be proactive in their management of David Wright’s back condition, which is why manager Terry Collins said the captain will sit out Saturday’s game against the Phillies.
But that came as news to Wright, who said he has yet to discuss the matter in detail with Collins.
“He’s the boss,” Wright said, offering an indication that he’s willing to defer to the manager.
Communication between Collins and Wright will be a key throughout the season, the third baseman’s first full campaign since being diagnosed with spinal stenosis.
After Friday’s 7-2 win over the Phillies, Collins said that Wright, when given a choice of weekend games, preferred to take Saturday off. But Wright said that was “yet to be determined.”
Wright is hitting .182 (2-for-11) but has reached base at a .400 clip, thanks to four walks. He doubled to right-center in the first inning, then made a barehanded play on Odubel Herrera’s bunt in the fourth.
But in the eighth, he was charged with a throwing error, then had a pop-up drop behind him after it got caught in the swirling wind. The latter miscue wound up as a strange double play. Cesar Hernandez got caught in a rundown off first base, unaware that with one down and runners at first and second, umpires invoked the infield fly rule.
Said Wright: “That was crazy.”
Extra bases
Antonio Bastardo signed a two-year, $12-million deal during the offseason to help the Mets protect late-game leads. But for the second straight game, Collins entrusted a late lead to righty Jim Henderson, a former Brewers closer whose shoulder problems netted him only a minor-league deal and an invite to spring training. Henderson tossed a scoreless seventh inning. Bastardo made his season debut in a mop-up situation, tossing a scoreless ninth with the Mets ahead by five runs . . . Righthander Zack Wheeler will have a minor procedure Tuesday to remove a suture knot in his right forearm, the Mets announced. The knot, which caused skin irritation, is residue from Wheeler’s Tommy John surgery. Wheeler is expected to miss only a few days in his throwing program. He remains on track for a July return.