MLB

Mets give Duda day off to rest back

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Lucas Duda still hasn’t grasped the meaning of taking a day off.

The Mets right fielder was scratched from the lineup yesterday after incurring back soreness — the result of taking too many swings in the batting cage on his off day, according to manager Terry Collins.

“It’s just a little tight, one of those things that just happens,” Duda said.

Collins said he didn’t want Duda riding the bus two hours each way to the Braves’ complex, so he was scratched for precautionary reasons. Duda is expected back in the lineup today.

The manager told Duda to pace himself better.

“He’s not happy with the way he’s swinging, but I said, ‘You’ve got to use a little common sense,’ ” Collins said. “You don’t need to kill yourself. There’s still 3 1/2 weeks to go and [he’s] going to get plenty of at-bats. But he’s going to be fine.”

* Matt Harvey pitched two hitless innings in the Mets’ 5-3 victory over the Braves and struck out one. A day earlier, Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax sought out Harvey because he wanted to meet the top pitching prospect.

“That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced,” Harvey said. “After I said, ‘It’s an honor to meet you,’ he said, ‘It’s an honor to meet you. I told Terry [Collins] I wanted to meet you.’ ”

But the best recent advice Harvey received came from a more mortal pitcher, in an effort to get the right-hander comfortable against big-name hitters. Yesterday that meant retiring Chipper Jones and Jason Heyward in the fourth inning.

Tim Byrdak talked to me the other day and said, ‘Worry about the jersey on the front, not the back,’ ” Harvey said.

* Outfielder Scott Hairston (left oblique) is still stiff and sore after receiving a cortisone shot earlier in the week. He remains limited to tracking pitches in batting practice, not swinging. Hairston is hopeful he will be ready to play in the final week of Grapefruit League action and get enough at-bats to start the season with the Mets.

* Center fielder Andres Torres is expected back in the lineup today after resting for two days with a sore gluteal muscle. David Wright (rib cage) is still being evaluated daily.

* The Mets still are considering the possibility of signing lefty reliever C.J. Nitkowski, who threw for team officials on Thursday, according to a club source.

* Former Mets outfielder Jason Pridie reportedly failed a minor league drug test with the Athletics and is facing a 50-game suspension.