J.D. Davis was eligible to come off the IL on Saturday after suffering a left hand sprain earlier this month, but instead, Mets manager Luis Rojas said he would begin a rehab assignment first.
Rojas told reporters on Saturday that Davis, who has been out since May 1, was “close” to a return, but it looks like the team would like him to get some at-bats in before returning to the major league club.
Davis missed time in April after being hit on the hand with a pitch, and has just 48 plate appearances so far this season, but has made the most of those chances. He is slashing .389/.479/.610 with a pair of home runs, and would represent a big boost for the Mets offense whenever he returns to the lineup.
The pitching staff, which is still awaiting the return of Carlos Carrasco ad Noah Syndergaard, could be getting a boost on the bullpen front in Seth Lugo, who Rojas said could return at the “end of this month” and will begin a rehab assignment of his own in the coming days. Lugo has yet to pitch this season after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow.
Jeff McNeil, who was suffering from body cramps earlier in the week, was not in the Mets lineup after starting on Friday as the DH, though Rojas said he was available off the bench. Rojas also said Brandon Nimmo, who suffered a setback with his injured finger after beginning his rehab assignment with Syracuse on Thursday, was uncertain to resume his rehab assignment on Saturday.
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