ATLANTA — In an effort to keep David Wright’s left shoulder from heading south, the Mets have told him to remain north.
The Mets third baseman will stay in New York and rejoin the team Friday when it returns to Citi Field, according to manager Terry Collins, after an examination Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan indicated Wright’s shoulder could use additional rest.
Wright was originally slated to join the team at Turner Field on Monday, after an MRI exam two days earlier revealed a bruised rotator cuff. Wright was scratched from Friday’s lineup after incurring soreness the night before.
“I thought it was important to make sure that when he comes back, we don’t have issues,” Collins said before the Mets faced the Braves. “The doctors have said he’s going to be great by Friday, so we’ll just get by until then.”
Eric Campbell received a fourth straight start at third base, leaving the Mets without a backup infielder. In a pinch, Collins could insert Eric Young Jr. at second base and move Daniel Murphy to third with Campbell potentially going to shortstop.
Because Wilmer Flores can’t return from Triple-A Las Vegas until Saturday — unless the Mets place a player on the disabled list before then — and there is no other obvious candidate to promote from the minors, no serious consideration was given to bumping a player from the roster for an additional infielder, Collins said.
Collins was asked specifically about the possibility of bumping a pitcher for a spare infielder.
“We decided to stick with what we’ve got,” Collins said. “If it goes extra innings, it straps you a little bit, but I kind of like the way our pitching sets up right now and I don’t want to mess with that too much. Once [Wright] gets back on Friday, then you’ve got to make another move and it kind of disrupts some things.”
Wright sustained the injury on a head-first dive into second base on June 12, but indicated the shoulder wasn’t sore enough to affect his play until last Thursday. He was prescribed rest and anti-inflammatory medication upon returning to New York for his Saturday exam.
Campbell entered play 6-for-14 (.429) on the road trip, but Wright’s absence has created a gap in the lineup. Before the setback, Wright had a 10-game hitting streak in which he was hitting .385 with two homers and seven RBIs.
“[Wright] is our star player and that’s a big hole to take out,” Collins said. “Obviously we’ve got some guys that have to step up and fill that hole, and Eric has done a nice job so far. He’s gotten some big hits for us. Guys have stepped up. Whether we have David or not it takes all nine guys in that lineup.”
The rookie Campbell is just trying to show the Mets he belongs.
“Obviously when a player like David goes down, you’re not going to replace doing what he did, he’s a superstar,” Campbell said. “I’m just trying to help the team win. Whether that’s moving guys over or driving the run in, I’ll try to do what I can.
“When David does come back, I’ll be hopefully better pinch hitting or just double switching.”