NEW YORK -- As expected, David Wright isn't in the New York Mets lineup for Monday's Memorial Day matinee against the Chicago White Sox. Now it seems increasingly possible Wright won't be back anytime soon.
"Yes, I'm concerned about David Wright possibly [going on the disabled list]," manager Terry Collins said Monday morning. "The condition he's been playing in and the condition he's in right now, yeah, I'm concerned about it. I know this guy plays with a lot of discomfort. He always has. When he can't play, he's hurt.
"So yeah, I'm concerned about it."
Wright has a chronic back condition, but he has been out of the lineup since Saturday because of neck discomfort. The Mets' medical staff gave him an oral anti-inflammatory medication Sunday that requires 48 hours to take full effect, so he is already unavailable until Tuesday at the earliest.
The Mets, already without first baseman Lucas Duda because of a stress fracture in his back, used Wilmer Flores at first base and Ty Kelly at third base on Monday against White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana. They acquired first baseman James Loney from the San Diego Padres, but while Loney was at Citi Field on Monday, he won't be added to the roster until Tuesday.
Collins said the left-handed hitting Loney will start Tuesday night against White Sox right-hander Mat Latos. By holding off on activating Loney, the Mets avoided sending out another player who would need to be recalled if Wright goes on the DL.
The Mets had a quick turnaround after Sunday night's 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Collins found time to rewatch closer Jeurys Familia's two poor weekend outings. Familia, who had allowed just five runs in his first 23 appearances this season, gave up six runs in two bad innings against the Dodgers.
"He's just not making the pitches," Collins said. "Right-handed hitters, he usually eats them up, and he's just left that slider on the plate several times, and they're swinging at it. I still think he's going to be fine. He's just had a couple of bad outings."
Right-handed hitters were 3-for-6 with two walks against Familia in the two games against the Dodgers. Before the weekend, right-handers were hitting .243 against the Mets closer.