Righty Shaun Marcum has nerve inflammation in his neck, an MRI exam Thursday revealed, and the ailing starter will rest for at least 48 more hours.
Marcum received what the Mets termed “trigger point injections” to his neck to treat the inflammation. He will head to Port St. Lucie Friday and is considered day-to-day.
Signed as a free agent this offseason, Marcum, who last pitched March 16, had been slated to make his first Mets start Sunday against the Marlins at Citi Field. With Marcum out, lefty Aaron Laffey is the likely replacement.
* Righty phenom Zack Wheeler struggled in Triple-A Las Vegas’ season opener last night, needing 86 pitches to get through 3 1/3 innings on the road against the Sacramento River Cats — the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate. Wheeler struggled with his control, walking three. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out three.
Travis d’Arnaud, the prize of the R.A. Dickey trade, caught and batted third for the 51s. He went 2-for-3, walked twice and scored four runs in a 10-5 win over Sacramento.
* Since the Marlins are in town this weekend, John Buck will face the team he played for last season. Buck was part of the package sent from Miami to Toronto along with Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson before being shipped to the Mets in the Blue Jays’ trade for Dickey..
“Revenge? No, it’s always fun,” Buck said. “Obviously I still have friends over there, so it’s more a competitive thing.”
* Terry Collins rested Daniel Murphy Thursday, starting Justin Turner at second base. The manager said Turner “needs to get some at-bats.” and thought it was logical to make the move yesterday since Padres lefty Eric Stults was pitching.Turner had three hits, but grounded out in the seventh with two on and two out.against righty Luke Gregerson. Collins didn’t consider pinch hitting Murphy because he thinks Turner can hit righties (.295 last year) and because Turner had more at-bats in spring training than Murphy. In the eighth, Murphy pinch hit and struck out.
With the Marlins starting three righties this weekend, Murphy will be back in the lineup against Miami.