LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The aches and pains are starting to add up for the Mets.
On the same day Ike Davis was scratched from the lineup and told to remain in Port St. Lucie because of tightness in his calf, manager Terry Collins removed Lucas Duda from the Mets’ exhibition game against the Braves after one at-bat because of “stiff” legs.
Collins is hopeful both players, along with Ruben Tejada, will be available for Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Astros at Tradition Field.
“It’s just the fields are starting to harden up due to the great weather,” Collins said after the Mets’ 6-2 victory. “I’ve got to make sure these guys are getting treatment and staying healthy.”
Tejada was scratched from Sunday’s lineup after incurring tightness in his left hamstring during pregame drills. He remained in Port St. Lucie on Monday. Collins also expects to get Eric Young Jr. into the lineup for the first time this spring. The outfielder has battled recent soreness in his right side.
Jeurys Familia pitched two shutout innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out two. The right-hander could be in the bullpen mix for the eighth-inning role, according to Collins.
“What you see is when he gets the ball over, they don’t square him up very good,” Collins said. “They might get a hit, but they go on the ground.”
Familia also impressed team officials with his approach in last week’s intrasquad scrimmage.
“If he gets command of it, he’s a back end of the bullpen guy,” Collins said.
David Wright and Daniel Murphy will begin playing exhibition games by the end of the week, according to Collins. Both are getting a late start in an effort to minimize fatigue and prevent abdominal injuries.
SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, who did a full NFL schedule for FOX last fall, has been hired by the network as the main host for its MLB pregame show. The assignment includes the regular season, All-Star Game, playoffs and World Series. Burkhardt will continue in his role as the Mets sideline reporter. He has one season remaining on his SNY contract.