Just Mets

Michael Cuddyer has been suffering from a bone bruise in his left knee in recent weeks, something in which club personnel have said will need to be managed throughout the rest of the season.

Cuddyer told reporters last week this bruise will not require surgery, and Sandy Alderson has said the injury will not require him to be placed on the disabled list.

However, Cuddyer has appeared in only six games this month, and after a five-day layoff (he did not play on Sunday against the Diamondbacks), he is once again out of the lineup on Friday against the Cardinals.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis is listed as the starter in left field and batting sixth. Cuddyer is available off the bench, technically.

Terry Collins insisted on Friday Nieuwenhuis’ presence in the lineup was a reward for his performance on Sunday, during which he became the first Met ever to hit three home runs in a home game.

Collins said Cuddyer is expected to play Saturday and Sunday, although Cuddyer said in St. Louis on Friday his knee does not feel better with the extra rest.

Well, it’s not clear if that’s the actual reason Cuddyer is out, although it’s respectable to reward Nieuwenhuis for his magical day on Sunday.

No matter what, with the Mets playing the class of the league over the next week, the club is going to have to give in and put Cuddyer on the disabled list if he can’t play consistently. They simply cannot play a man down against these clubs and expect to compete on a daily basis.

Cuddyer has hit .244/.294/.367 with seven home runs and 29 RBI in 303 plate appearances in 2015.