Third baseman David Wright was scratched from tonight’s lineup due to his back flaring up on him prior to tonight’s game. The Mets and Wright both hope this isn’t anything serious and something that will keep him out of the lineup multiple days. Recent call-up Matt Reynolds is starting at third base and hitting ninth for the Mets tonight.

Lucas Duda is also not in tonight’s lineup due to having a stiff back, that originally became an issue over the weekend in Colorado. Duda received an anti-inflamatory injection during yesterday’s day off and his condition seems to be day-to-day according to manager Terry Collins. Speaking to reporters prior to tonight’s game Collins had the following to say regarding Duda’s back…

“Lucas complained of a pretty stiff back at the end of the weekend,” Collins stated prior to Tuesday night’s game. “He was examined yesterday, was given some medication and a shot. He’s pretty sore today. So he and I talked a while ago. It’s just not worth the risk with the weather the way it’s going to be tonight. It looks like it’s going to be kind of damp and cool. … I just said with Gio pitching tomorrow, he’d probably have that day off anyway, so let’s just use yesterday, today and tomorrow and see if we can clean that back up so he’s healthier.”

Eric Campbell is starting at first base tonight, and hitting sixth. The Mets will be shorthanded once again on their bench tonight with the recent injuries. We will keep our fingers crossed that the game does not come down to the shortened bench the Mets are playing with, and it comes down to the players that are eligible to play tonight. It’s tough to play your biggest division rival shorthanded but we must remember it’s still the middle of May and health trumps everything at this point.