Mets: Lucas Duda, Travis d’Arnaud leave game with injuries

During Wednesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, both first baseman Lucas Duda and catcher Travis d’Arnaud left the game due to injury.

For Lucas Duda, the injury apparently occurred during an awkward play at first. A tapper by Phillies’ second baseman Cesar Hernandez up the line in the top of the fifth inning was fielded by Mets starting pitcher Robert Gsellman. His throw into the runner caused Duda to extend his glove toward Hernandez who looked to run directly into his wrist.

Duda looked in visible pain right after the play, and after a ground out to Jose Reyes ended the inning, Duda’s night would be done.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Wilmer Flores pinch hit for Duda, and would eventually stay on as a replacement at first base. Duda’s early diagnosis is he suffered a hyperextended elbow.

There’s no word on how severe this hyperextended elbow issue would be, but it was obviously bad enough to get Lucas out of the game.

In terms of back up at first base should Duda need to miss some time, the most logical move would be to plug Wilmer Flores in there as much time as needed.

Let’s also not forget that Jay Bruce got some playing time at first base this spring, and the Mets were wanting to give him some exposure there during the season to get Michael Conforto some extra starts in right field. Since it’s yet to happen this season, no one really knows how comfortable the Mets are with Bruce at first when the games count, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for that possibility.

As far as Travis d’Arnaud is concerned, his injury seems like it’ll be less worrisome. During a stolen base attempt in the game, d’Arnaud’s hand collided with Aaron Altherr‘s bat on his follow-through.

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Travis would stay in the game, and even bat in the bottom half of the inning, but he was replaced by Rene Rivera in the seventh. The Mets say d’Arnaud has a right wrist contusion. No word on how serious it is, but hopefully the Mets were just being cautious in this case.