MLB

SHEFFIELD’S NEXT MOVE COULD BE TO DL

WASHINGTON — The injury hits just keep on coming for the Mets.

Gary Sheffield appears on his way to making it an even 10 players on the Mets’ disabled list, judging by Jerry Manuel’s increasingly pessimistic comments before last night’s game with the Nationals.

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Sheffield was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game after leaving Friday’s 11-0 loss in Atlanta with what the Mets originally described as cramps in his right hamstring. But following a familiar pattern with the Mets and their description of injuries this season, Sheffield’s problem isn’t getting any better despite the four days of rest.

Manuel indicated if the 40-year-old slugger’s leg doesn’t improve by Friday, when the Mets open a three-game series with the Astros in Houston, then the DL likely is his next stop.

“He’s still sore,” Manuel said. “There’s still some lingering soreness in that hamstring. What I’m going to try to do with him is continue to limit him to emergency pinch-hitting and hopefully get through the next two games and see where we are Friday.”

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Sheffield also had an admission of his own, revealing the day after the injury that the continued cramping and soreness in his hamstring is the result of an electrolyte imbalance.

Newly promoted Cory Sullivan, who hit just .217 with the Rockies last season, will start in Sheffield’s place in left field tonight.

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The Mets actually got some good news on the injury front yesterday when John Maine threw a 65-pitch simulated game in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The Mets remain hopeful that Maine, who has been on the DL since early June with a pinched nerve in his right shoulder, can return to the rotation by the end of this month or early August. Manuel said how Maine’s shoulder feels today will be pivotal to pinpointing the pitcher’s return.

Jose Reyes also participated in the simulated game, collecting two hits (including a double) but not going all-out on the bases with a slightly torn right hamstring tendon.

Manuel said Reyes practically walked to second base on the double yesterday, but the Mets hope to have the shortstop running the bases by the end of this week.

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Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of David Wright’s major-league debut. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wright ranks third in the NL in hits since his debut (928 through Monday). That trails just Albert Pujols (938) and Jimmy Rollins (930).

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In a money-saving move, the Mets released veteran outfielder Emil Brown from Triple-A Buffalo yesterday and promoted infielder Josh Peterson from Double-A Binghamton to take his place.