PHILADELPHIA — Juan Lagares is hurting again.
The Mets outfielder is expected to undergo an MRI exam in New York on Monday, after leaving Sunday’s game against the Phillies with discomfort in his right rib cage.
Lagares was absent from the starting lineup Saturday because of the discomfort, but was used to bunt in a pinch-hitting role.
He returned to the lineup on Sunday after telling manager Terry Collins he felt better.
“I felt normal,” Lagares said after the Mets beat the Phillies 4-3 in 11 innings at Citizens Bank Park. “When I came in the morning I wanted to play [Sunday].”
But Lagares had a flare-up in the ninth inning, when he struck out against Jonathan Papelbon to complete a 1-for-5 day at the plate. Chris Young moved to center field in the 10th inning.
If Lagares is placed on the disabled list, the Mets could recall Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Las Vegas. The rookie was optioned to Las Vegas on Sunday to make room for reliever Dana Eveland, but remained in Philadelphia in case Lagares had a setback.
Lagares was placed on the DL last month with a pulled right hamstring.
The Mets and Phillies became the first teams to play three consecutive games of 11 innings or longer since the Mariners and Blue Jays in 1991. Of the eight Mets-Phillies games this season, five have gone into extra innings.
Jon Niese has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts, which is the second-longest streak in the major leagues. The Dodgers’ Zack Greinke entered his start Sunday night with 23 straight starts in which he had allowed three earned runs or fewer.
Josh Edgin has six straight scoreless outings for the Mets. The lefty reliever struck out the side in the 10th inning Sunday and lefties are 1-for-15 (.067) against him.