METS
Wright out with bad neck
NEW YORK -- Mets third baseman David Wright was out of the lineup Saturday because his neck was bothering him.
Playing with a back condition called spinal stenosis since he returned from a long layoff in late August last season, Wright has homered in his last three games. General Manager Sandy Alderson says the team is a little concerned about its captain, and Wright was examined by a doctor Saturday.
Ty Kelly started at third in Wright's place Saturday night, batting seventh. Asdrubal Cabrera moved up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
The status of Wright is uncertain. Regardless of the neck issue, New York Manager Terry Collins said Wright is scheduled to sit out Monday afternoon because of the quick turnaround following a 7 p.m. game today.
Whether or not Wright is available to play tonight against Dodgers ace lefty Clayton Kershaw remains to be seen.
Help on the way at first
The Mets have found help at first base following Lucas Duda's injury, acquiring veteran James Loney from the San Diego Padres for cash.
Loney has spent this season in the minors, playing well for Class AAA El Paso. He was batting .342 with 2 home runs and 28 RBI over 43 games in the Pacific Coast League.
Always a fine fielder, Loney, 32, hit .280 with 4 home runs, 16 doubles and 32 RBI in 104 games with Tampa Bay last year. The Rays released him April 3 and he signed with the Padres on April 8.
Duda was put on the disabled list Monday with a stress fracture in his lower back that is expected to sideline him at least four to six weeks, probably longer.
Until Duda returns, Mets Manager Terry Collins said Loney, a left-handed hitter, will mostly face right-handed pitching in a first-base platoon with Wilmer Flores and Eric Campbell. Flores is close to returning from a strained hamstring.
DODGERS
Urias heads back to AAA
NEW YORK -- Following a brief major league debut, the Los Angeles Dodgers have optioned 19-year-old pitching prospect Julio Urias back to Class AAA Oklahoma City.
In a corresponding move Saturday, the team selected the contract of right-hander Casey Fien from its top farm club.
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said the team wanted another arm in the bullpen after Urias lasted only 22/3 innings Friday night. Los Angeles used five relievers in a 6-5 loss to the New York Mets.
Urias, one of baseball's top prospects, threw 42 of 81 pitches for strikes at Citi Field in a much-anticipated big league debut that lasted 59 minutes. He became the first teenage pitcher to start a game in the majors since Seattle's Felix Hernandez in 2005.
The left-hander gave up 3 runs, 5 hits and 4 walks while striking out 3. He was on the hook for a loss until Los Angeles rallied for four runs in the ninth to tie the score.
"We thought Julio threw the ball well and where he's at and where our 'pen's at, it was more of the fact that we need to get coverage in the bullpen for the next two, three days," Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. "So he's going to go back down there and make two or three starts. We'll see when it makes sense to get back him here, what's best for us and as well as him."
ORIOLES
Gallardo working to return
CLEVELAND -- Baltimore Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo took a significant step in his return from right shoulder tendinitis, facing live hitting for the first time in more than a month as he threw a three-inning simulated game before the Orioles' game Saturday in Cleveland.
Gallardo, who last pitched April 22 in Kansas City before going on the disabled list, threw all of his pitches -- his fastball, changeup, cutter and curveball -- during his 45-pitch outing.
Gallardo will now have a work day on either Monday or Tuesday and if that goes well, he is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday with high Class-A Frederick against the Potomac Nationals. He would be scheduled to go four innings (about 60 pitches).
BLUE JAYS
Tulowitzki has quad injury
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have placed Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list with a right quad injury.
An MRI before Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox revealed a low-grade strain, and Tulowitzki will receive treatment on the leg before resuming baseball activities.
Tulowitzki was injured stealing second in New York against the Yankees on Tuesday. He came out of that game, and after sitting out the remainder of the series, he returned for Friday night's home game against the Red Sox but was ineffective, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and showing limitations in his movement in the field.
He is batting .204 this season, with 8 home runs and 23 RBI. Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney are expected to split time at shortstop until Tulowitzki returns.
GIANTS
Cain strains hamstring
DENVER -- The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Matt Cain on the 15-day disabled list prior to Saturday's game, one day after he strained his right hamstring in the second inning of a start at Coors Field.
Chris Stratton, a former SEC Pitcher of the Year from Mississippi State, took Cain's place on the 25-man roster.
Putting Cain on the DL was a no-brainer unless the Giants thought he could start Wednesday in Atlanta. The team can use days off to skip a No. 5 starter the following time through the rotation, and Cain would be eligible to be activated when his turn comes up again June 12.
But, as Manager Bruce Bochy reminded, the Giants prefer to use days off to give everyone in the rotation the extra day of rest.
It sounds as if right-hander Albert Suarez would be the frontrunner to start in Cain's place Wednesday in Atlanta, if he's not needed to pitch in relief before then.
-- Democrat-GazettePress Services
Sports on 05/29/2016