PHILADELPHIA — Lucas Duda was diagnosed with a strained left rib cage muscle last night, prompting the Mets to reach once again to Triple-A Las Vegas for help.
The team placed Duda on the disabled list and recalled infielder Zach Lutz, who is expected to arrive in time for today’s series finale between the Mets and Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Duda had returned to New York before the Mets’ 8-7 loss to the Phillies yesterday for examination after arriving at the ballpark with lingering soreness in his left rib cage. Duda went to the Hospital for Special Surgery to receive an MRI exam and was diagnosed with the strain.
Lutz was hitting .286 with seven homers and 37 RBIs in 53 games for Las Vegas. He has experience at both corner infield positions.
Discussions had begun on the possibility of recalling Ike Davis if a roster spot became available — manager Terry Collins earlier said Davis’ name would be “in the conversation” — but team officials, according to multiple sources, were more comfortable leaving Davis in Las Vegas to continue working on his swing.
Before going 0-for-3 with a walk last night, Davis had four home runs in his previous two games for Las Vegas and resembles a “man among boys” in the Pacific Coast League, according to an evaluator.
“He’s calmed down his swing and he looks really damn good,” the evaluator said, noting Davis’ pitch selection has improved dramatically. “He’s back to what he looked like when he got to the major leagues.”
Davis was batting .161 with five homers and 16 RBIs for the Mets on June 9 when he was demoted to Las Vegas. In recent days, Collins said Davis had been working to eliminate the pronounced hitch in his swing.
Daniel Murphy was yesterday’s starter at first base in Duda’s place, with Josh Satin expected to play the position today.
* Despite the fact Juan Lagares went 3-for-4 and made a highlight reel catch on Friday, Collins gave Kirk Nieuwenhuis the start against right-hander Jonathan Pettibone. Nieuwenhis went 0-for-2 before Lagares went hitless in a pinch-hitting appearance.
“We’ve got lefty, lefty, lefty coming up,” Collins said, referring to John Lannan, Chris Sale and John Danks. “Juan Lagares will get plenty of playing time the next three games.”
* LaTroy Hawkins rejoined the Mets after missing Friday’s game to attend a close friend’s funeral.
* The latest update in All-Star voting update is expected to be released today. David Wright trailed the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval at third base by 126,403 votes in last week’s tally.