Mets are ensuring they can unleash stars on Nationals
Manager Terry Collins wasn’t taking a chance that he would be without two of his biggest bats when the first-place Nationals arrive in Queens on Thursday for their four-game series against the Mets, so he left Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto out of Wednesday’s starting lineup against the Cubs at Citi Field.
Cespedes, now dealing with a sore heel, was scheduled to receive the day off after playing the previous two days, while Conforto, who didn’t play the previous two days because of back tightness, felt significant improvement, but was benched for precautionary reasons.
Conforto took batting practice after not doing so Tuesday, and said he felt good enough to play.
“[Collins] wanted to make sure it didn’t turn into something that kept me out for a lot longer,” Conforto said. “He said, ‘Hey, let’s not make this a big deal. Let’s knock it out.’
“What he really wants is for me to be 100 percent for this weekend and make sure I’m good to go.”
Conforto first felt stiffness in the mid-section of his back Sunday in Atlanta after playing both games of a doubleheader the previous day. The 24-year-old saw multiple doctors, but didn’t undergo an MRI exam.
“I feel great,” Conforto said. “I feel good to go.”
Cespedes has only played in one full game since his return from a hamstring injury on June 10, and was removed during the first two games against the Cubs this week.
Despite the limited action, Collins opted not to risk the star outfielder’s status against Washington, having already penciled in Cespedes to play the next three days against the Nationals.
“It’s kind of like in his case, like a pitcher who throws 45 pitches warming up for a game and then you don’t use him. He still god ready,” Collins said. “In [Cespedes’] case, that’s two nights in a row where he’s gone through the whole process, which takes 30-something minutes to get him stretched out and warmed up, and then play.”
With Cespedes and Conforto starting Thursday, Juan Lagares likely will head back to the bench despite having hit .360 in June, entering Wednesday.
“That’s always a good problem to have,” Collins said about the crowded outfield. “Certainly in Juan’s case, left-handed pitching is what he’s been hitting, so he’s going to get some opportunities to play.”
Reliever Josh Smoker was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain after throwing a career-high 81 pitches Tuesday. Rafael Montero was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Reliever Hansel Robles was not considered a candidate for the promotion, having amassed a 7.56 ERA in seven appearances in Triple-A.
“He has struggled,” Collins said. “The last reports we had the other day is he’s really struggling with command of his fastball, which is why we had him down there. He’s the one guy I’m trying to keep an eye on a little bit because this guy was pretty effective for a couple years with us and for some reason he’s just lost the command of his fastball and we’ve got to get it back.”