Collins: Lagares to return Saturday
WASHINGTON (AP) Mets manager Terry Collins says Juan Lagares is headed back to the team's outfield.
Collins started an outfield of Eric Young, Curtis Granderson and Bobby Abreu on Friday night, and said Lagares, out of the lineup for the fourth time in five games, will play Saturday.
''Juan is the center fielder, but we've got to somehow get his stroke back,'' Collins said. ''He's starting to expand the zone a little bit right now and when we get him back to taking some of those pitches, he'll be certainly (playing), because his defense is something we need.
''But we're not scoring, so we've got to figure out how to get some runs.''
Lagares is hitting .296, but is 5 for 27 (.185) in his last 10 games.
''All I can do is be ready, (and) if the opportunity comes, try to do my job,'' said Lagares, who walked as a pinch hitter in the ninth.