The Mets could be getting their spark plug back Monday night in St. Louis.
Manager Terry Collins said he expects outfielder Eric Young Jr. (right hamstring strain) to return from the disabled list as the Mets begin a six-game road trip.
Young played one game with Single-A Port St. Lucie on Thursday before playing with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday and Sunday.
Since Young went on the 15-day DL on May 24, Collins has used several different leadoff hitters to little success, including slugging outfielder Curtis Granderson in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Padres. Granderson went 2-for-3 with a solo homer for the Mets’ first run.
Granderson, who was back in the lineup after missing three games with a sore left calf muscle, and veteran Bobby Abreu are both swinging hot bats, so Eric Young and Chris Young, it would seem, are battling for one spot. Chris Young was given the day off on Sunday after his four-strikeout effort on Saturday, and the free-agent acquisition is batting just .196, with more strikeouts (37) than hits (32).
Eric Young, meanwhile, has ignited the Mets at times with his speed — he has 17 stolen bases and has scored 28 runs — despite his .220 average and .315 on-base percentage in 42 games.
Collins said right-hander Dillon Gee (back) will throw a bullpen session in Miami next weekend and could begin a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues soon thereafter. … Rehabbing center fielder Juan Lagares (strained rib-cage muscle) is a “long way” from returning, Collins said. Lagares is running and throwing at the Mets minor league complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Captain David Wright’s struggles continued. He went 0-for-3 and finished the Mets’ homestand 1-for-20, his batting average dropping to .262.