Mets outfielder Michael Cuddyer has been hobbled by a bone bruise in his left knee which has limited him to just 31 plate appearances over ten games in July.
As a last ditched effort to avoid the disabled list earlier this week, Cuddyer began a regimen of oral anti-inflammatories in hopes it will help relieve the pain being caused by the bruise.
Terry Collins said after Wednesday’s loss to the Nationals he hopes Cuddyer’s knee is well enough for him to start Thursday’s series opener against the Dodgers at Citi Field.
However, Cuddyer did not express optimism his knee would be healthy enough for him to do so.
I don’t know if I’m confident enough to play a full nine innings yet,” Cuddyer explained in the visitors clubhouse on Thursday. “That’s the issue.”
This injury is not something that’s going to heal unless Cuddyer is shutdown and rested for an extended period of time. It’s clearly something both he and the club are trying to avoid, but the problem is if he isn’t available but is still active on the roster, the Mets are playing with a man short on a daily basis, which limits and overexposes the options Terry Collins does have at his disposal.
At some point, everyone will have to give in and put the player on the disabled list. If that means they have to turn to Michael Conforto and call him up to play everyday in left field, then that’s what needs to happen.
Or, the club may consider accelerating their perceived plan to add talent from the outside as well.
Either way, something has to be done.
And that breaking point could be as soon as Thursday, according to Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, as the Mets could place Cuddyer on the disabled list today and bring up Conforto.
However, Mike Puma of the New York Post says there are no plans to promote Conforto for tonight’s game.
The timing would be a little peculiar considering the left-handed hitting prospect would be called up on the day the Dodgers are scheduled to start LHP Clayton Kershaw.
But again, the Mets cannot go on playing a man down, especially against first place teams.
Cuddyer did not start in any of the club’s three games against the Nationals – he has just 11 plate appearances in six games since the All-Star break.
Original post, 7:02 am, update 9:30 am
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