Major League Baseball

Mets C d'Arnaud back on DL with left elbow injury

Published Jun. 23, 2015 5:40 p.m. ET

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The injury-plagued New York Mets must absorb another blow to their roster after starting catcher Travis d'Arnaud was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow injury.

Mets assistant general manager John Ricco announced the move before Tuesday night's game in Milwaukee. A team missing regulars David Wright and Daniel Murphy must cope with d'Arnaud's second trip to the DL this year.

Manager Terry Collins was hopeful d'Arnaud will miss just the minimum 15 days. A mainstay in the middle of the Mets' lineup when healthy, d'Arnaud is batting .296 with four homers and 17 RBIs

"We're numb to the whole situation," Collins said about injuries overall.

D'Arnaud had been diagnosed with a hyperextended left elbow following a play at the plate during a 6-4 loss Saturday in Atlanta. He missed Sunday's game.

Collins expected bad news after seeing d'Arnaud in the trainer's room during an off day Monday in Milwaukee. The skipper said he "was kind of expecting it would be an issue."

D'Arnaud had an MRI on Monday and returned to New York on Tuesday morning.

It was the latest setback for a catcher counted on to drive in runs along with Wright and Murphy. He had just returned on June 10 from a seven-week stint on the disabled list for a fractured right pinkie finger.

Now a team that struggles to score must try to hold ground in the NL East with first baseman Lucas Duda as the lineup's only consistent threat. A five-game losing streak going into Tuesday left the Mets at 36-35, in danger of falling back to .500 for the first time since a 3-3 record before play on April 13.

The Mets will need more production out of veterans Curtis Granderson, batting .240 with nine homers and 21 RBIs, and Michael Cuddyer, hitting .256 with six homers and 28 RBIs.

Rookie Kevin Plawecki started for d'Arnaud on Tuesday night. Catcher Johnny Monell was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace d'Arnaud.

"It takes everybody on the team to win games," Collins said. "Don't care who's in the lineup or who plays."

It won't be pitcher Dillon Gee, who was sent outright to Triple-A on Tuesday after clearing waivers and will earn his $5.3 million salary at Triple-A.

The right-hander, who was 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA, was designated for assignment last week after being replaced in the rotation by top prospect Noah Syndergaard.

Gee was cut on June 15, a day after he allowed eight runs and 11 hits in 3 2-3 innings against Atlanta in a spot start following his demotion to the bullpen.

Ricco did have positive news on Murphy, who has been sidelined since June 5 with a strained left quadriceps.

The infielder has been running and is getting close to starting a rehab assignment, Ricco said. "We're optimistic that he'll be playing in games and after that, it shouldn't be that long."

Also, reliever Jenrry Mejia began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday in the Gulf Coast League.

Mejia entered the season as the closer but has been on the disabled list since April 7 with right elbow inflammation. Four days later, Mejia was suspended for 80 games for violating the major league drug program following a positive test for the steroid Stanozolol.

Barring rainouts, Mejia will be activated on July 7 following the completion of his minor league rehab stint, according to Ricco.

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