Jose Reyes said he would start tonight after being out since hurting his oblique prior to last Wednesday’s game in San Juan, but that was before the scheduled starter for the Reds, Travis Wood, was forced into action when Aaron Harang was scratched with a sore lower back.
Why would that make a difference in Reyes’ availability?
Although Wood is a left-hander, Harang is a righty and Reyes is unsure if he’s ready to swing from the left side.
Reyes had planned on facing the Wood after sitting out last night, but manager Jerry Manuel thought his shortstop would still be in the lineup even with Harang on the mound.
“I think if Jose’s ready and wants to play — and he wants to play, he’ll probably bat right-handed,” Manuel said after last night’s 8-6 loss.
“I haven’t tried [swinging] from the left,” Reyes said. “I have to talk to the trainer and see what they tell me.”
Reyes, however, sounded like he just wanted to get back on the field, regardless of who is pitching.
“We [haven’t] talked about what I would feel like if there was a right-handed pitcher,” Reyes said. “Maybe I would play, anyway and just hit righty. I don’t care.”
He reported no problems fielding or running.
“It’s been six days and I haven’t played a game,” Reyes said. “It’s time to get back on the field.”
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Raul Valdes was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to help the Mets’ overtaxed bullpen and pitched one-third of an inning after Mike Pelfrey was knocked out.
To make room for the lefty Valdes, the Mets placed Fernando Tatis on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Tatis will undergo further testing today at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Tatis’ departure leaves the Mets without an experienced right-handed pinch-hitter.
* Manuel said that because the Mets have Thursday off, he likely will use R.A. Dickey, Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana against the Braves in the final series before the All-Star break, making Hisanori Takahashi available to pitch out the bullpen, if needed. . . . Oliver Perez will make his second rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie tonight.
* Manuel indicated Josh Thole could stick around as the team’s third catcher because the manager would “like to see what we have in Josh.” . . . General manager Omar Minaya said Oliver Perez is scheduled to pitch today in Port St. Lucie. . . . All-Star David Wright said he didn’t plan on participating in the Home Run Derby next week in Anaheim.