LAKELAND, Fla. — The first significant injury scare of spring training is upon the Mets.
J.D. Davis departed Tuesday’s game after jamming his left shoulder on a diving play at third base that kept him on the ground for an extended period as he spoke with the team trainer. Davis is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Wednesday.
“Right now it feels fine,” Davis said before departing Publix Field, where the Mets lost 9-6 to the Tigers. “It feels dead. It feels weak. Right now a little stiff, but it’s OK right now.”
Davis said he was examined by a Tigers doctor and told his rotator cuff and labrum weren’t damaged.
Earlier in the game, Davis — who is attempting to refine his third-base play after spending most of last season in left field — looked smooth in starting a 5-4-3 double play.
“He is out there playing the game the way he plays,” manager Luis Rojas said. “He dives for the ball and he jams his shoulder and he feels something he’s probably never felt before. He just stays there until he gets some assistance. Once we got there he started talking and kind of like interacting with the trainer, he got more comfortable. We’ll see overnight how he feels.”
Seth Lugo is the only other Mets regular with an injury of note. The pitcher fractured his left pinky toe earlier in camp, but has been throwing in recent days.
Andres Gimenez is known primarily for his defense, but the shortstop committed his second error in the exhibition season, bouncing a throw past first baseman Matt Adams.
“Two days ago [he] made another error, but it was a funny hop, a late hop, but he’s played real good defense,” Rojas said. “I trust his defensive skills. I think he’s got good range. He’s pretty accurate with his throws. Today he buried one, but he’s a kid that has a good feel for his throwing, so we have him really high with his defensive abilities and I think he is going to be OK at short during the spring.”
Wilson Ramos will start behind the plate Wednesday when Noah Syndergaard pitches, a step toward getting the two in sync this season. Syndergaard grew frustrated with Ramos late in the 2019 season, prompting the right-hander to request other catchers.
Left-handed reliever Daniel Zamora pitched a scoreless third inning, facing all righty hitters — Cameron Maybin, Jonathan Schoop and Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera hit into a double play after Gimenez committed an error.
Matt Adams, who arrived last month on a minor league contract, started at first base and went hitless in three at-bats, dropping his early batting average to .125.
Michael Wacha made a veteran move, bringing a pillow for the 2¹/₂ -hour ride from Port St. Lucie to Lakeland. The Mets play only once this season in Lakeland, which is among their farthest stops in the Grapefruit League. The team has an overnight on the west coast of Florida next month to play the Braves and Twins.
Noah Syndergaard and Edwin Diaz are set to face the Astros on Wednesday in Port St. Lucie. Justin Wilson is also among the Mets’ scheduled pitchers.