Duda Out Of Lineup With Tight Hamstring
ATLANTA (AP) — New York Mets manager Terry Collins held right fielder Lucas Duda out of the lineup Saturday with a tight left hamstring.
Collins indicated that he might give Duda a second day off when the Mets finish a three-game series Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis started in right field, rookie Jordany Valdespin was in left and Andre Torres in center.
Duda said the hamstring has bothered him for the last two weeks. He is hitting .137 over his last 51 at-bats.
"It's nothing major, but skip gave me the day and I should be ready to pinch hit or whatever happens," Duda said. "In a couple of days, it should be gone."
Collins believes the injury has caused Duda's swing to get out sync. The humidity in Atlanta hasn't helped, prompting his hamstring to tighten up in Friday's 7-5 loss.
The Mets should get starting left fielder Jason Bay back from concussion symptoms next week. He has gone 0 for 6 with two walks in two rehab games since being hurt on June 15.
Duda's four errors rank fourth among major league right fielders, but Collins doesn't mind his occasionally struggling with the glove if he's swinging the bat well.
"When he's not hitting, both sides of the game have to be analyzed a little bit, and he knows that. I was like, 'Look, we've got to get your leg better because if it's affecting your hitting, your trunk rotation and everything else, then it's got to get fixed.' He thought the (All-Star) break would help him, but it tightened up again last night."
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