MIAMI — The Mets could see Travis d’Arnaud sooner rather than later.
With catcher John Buck’s wife, Brooke, due to give birth today, manager Terry Collins yesterday said the rookie d’Arnaud would be a consideration to join the Mets once Buck departs the team and is placed on paternity leave. The leave would be for the maximum three days.
D’Arnaud was headed to Double-A Binghamton to continue his comeback from a broken left foot that sidelined him from game action for three months. D’Arnaud has been playing for just over a week.
If d’Arnaud is called up, Collins said he wouldn’t hesitate to put him in the starting lineup. But the final decision on who gets the promotion belongs to general manager Sandy Alderson. If d’Arnaud isn’t selected, Triple-A Las Vegas catchers Francisco Pena and Juan Centeno would be under consideration.
* Collins said he and pitching coach Dan Warthen have begun discussing the possibility of using Zack Wheeler from the bullpen in the last few weeks of the season as an alternative to shutting him down in September. Wheeler has pitched 114 1/3 innings this season split between Triple-A Las Vegas and the Mets. The organization figures to cap Wheeler at 180 innings.
The Mets have been using a six-man rotation to help Wheeler and Matt Harvey reach the finish line without getting shut down early.
‘We’re trying to figure out how can we save innings and get these guys through it,” Collins said before the Mets’ 3-2 loss last night.
* David Wright was treated for a cramp in his right leg, but said he expects to play today. Wright appeared to be in pain after stealing second base in the eighth inning and received a visit from trainer Ray Ramirez.
* Jenrry Mejia had elbow discomfort in the third inning and received a visit from Ramirez and Collins, but remained in the game. Mejia indicated the bone chips for which he may need surgery after the season were irritating him, but he has been pitching through the pain.
* Juan Lagares entered last night’s play fourth among NL rookies in batting average and slugging percentage. Lagares, who went 0-for-3, is hitting .270 and has a .405 slugging percentage.