NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Nimmo was out of the New York Mets' lineup Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves with soreness on his right side.
The left fielder said he was feeling pretty good, though, and thought it was realistic he could play Monday night versus Philadelphia.
“I’m happy with the progress so far,” Nimmo said. “It’s a little like, sore. So it’s like as if you worked out on it or something like that maybe a little too much. But other than that, it’s pretty good.”
Nimmo said core testing went well and he won't have an MRI unless problems arise when he tries swinging, which he planned to do Sunday evening.
“Everything looks good right now,” he said.
Nimmo exited Saturday’s game after the fourth inning with right intercostal irritation. He felt discomfort when he held up on a swing in the second and was checked by manager Carlos Mendoza and an athletic trainer.
Nimmo initially remained in the game and drew a walk. He played the next two innings in the field before being replaced by Tyrone Taylor.
DJ Stewart replaced Nimmo in left field and the leadoff spot Sunday. The 31-year-old Nimmo is hitting .228 with five home runs and a team-high 25 RBIs. He leads New York's everyday players with a .779 OPS.
“I’m pretty optimistic that we caught it early," Mendoza said. “We were able to treat it last night, and he’s feeling good today.”
Nimmo wanted to see if he could play Sunday night, but Mendoza nixed that idea this early in the season.
“And I respect that and really appreciate that coming from our manager," Nimmo said. "That’s the way it’s supposed to work. I’m supposed to want to play.”
Nimmo had appeared in all but one of the team's 38 games this year and played in 340 of New York's 361 games dating to the start of the 2022 season.
Over his past 14 games, he is batting .300 (15 for 50) with three homers, four doubles, 10 RBIs and a .560 slugging percentage to go with his .407 on-base percentage.
In other injury news, it's unclear when No. 1 starter Kodai Senga will throw live batting practice again or begin a minor league rehab assignment.
In his recovery and buildup from a right shoulder capsule strain, Senga faced hitters twice in the past two weeks. But he's back to just throwing bullpens probably for the next week or so, according to Mendoza, as Senga attempts to fine-tune his mechanics to his own liking.
“We don't want to put him at risk,” Mendoza said. “He's very meticulous about his craft.”
Elsewhere, right-hander Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings for Triple-A Syracuse in a win against Lehigh Valley. He allowed seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks, throwing 55 of his 74 pitches for strikes.
New York is expected to reinstate Megill from his minor league rehab assignment this week and decide whether to bring him back to the big leagues or option him to Syracuse.
Right-handed reliever Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) pitched a hitless inning Saturday for Syracuse and could come off the injured list Monday or Tuesday.
Left-hander David Peterson (left hip surgery) is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday at Double-A Binghamton. He could be ready to come off the IL when eligible on May 27, Mendoza said.
NOTES: RHP Max Kranick was sent outright to Syracuse on Saturday after getting designated for assignment last Monday.
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