MILWAUKEE — Juan Lagares is swinging at just about any pitch that doesn’t bounce, and that’s a problem for the Mets.
With Lagares in a 3-for-29 (.103) rut on this road trip to begin the second half, manager Terry Collins didn’t start him in the Mets’ 5-2 loss to the Brewers Saturday night.
Chris Young, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, started in center field, with Eric Young Jr. (1-for-4) in left.
Lagares had a pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth and struck out.
“[Lagares] is trying way too hard,” Collins said. “We’re trying to get him to reduce the strike zone, and he’s enlarging it.”
Lagares’ on-base percentage entering play was only .244 in his 25 games since returning from the DL on June 25.
“We need him to get going, because he’s a big piece, especially defensively here,” Collins said.
“I just thought a day [off] might get him to relax a little bit. We need to get him back on track.”
Daisuke Matsuzaka was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation and placed on the disabled list. According to Collins, the right-hander’s stay on the DL will last longer than two weeks.
“He needs to rest the elbow,” Collins said. “Seven to 10 days without throwing and then he’ll have more to say.”
Buddy Carlyle’s contract was selected from Triple-A Las Vegas to give the Mets additional help in the bullpen. Matsuzaka is 3-3 with a 3.87 ERA shuffling between the rotation and bullpen this season.
Wilmer Flores started at shortstop for the second time in three games and went 0-for-4.
Collins said he has no plan regarding playing time for Flores and Ruben Tejada at the position.
Nine of Lucas Duda’s team-leading 17 homers this season have come in the seventh inning or later.
Duda’s latest came on Friday, when he hit a two-run homer against Francisco Rodriguez, helping the Mets to a 3-2 victory.
It was the second homer in the ninth inning or later for Duda, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI single Saturday night. He also hit a two-run blast in the 11th inning on June 1 in Philadelphia with the game tied 2-2.