Robinson Cano missed just two games — a relief for the Mets. The veteran second baseman was back in the lineup for Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Reds, after getting hit with a pitch on the back part of his left hand Sunday.
Cano went 1-for-4 with a double and struck out once, but seemed fine.
“There was [a question],” manager Mickey Callaway said regarding Cano returning for the third game of the series at Citi Field. “We held off on the lineup until we got our eyes on him and he got to swing a bat. He went in there and swung in the cage and he felt great. So he’s full go.”
Cano missed a game last week after getting hit on the right hand. Before getting plunked again, he had been hot, batting .360 (18-of-60) over his previous 12 games with six RBIs and a .947 OPS.
Left-handed reliever Justin Wilson (elbow soreness) threw off flat ground and is nearing a return. He will throw off a mound again soon, at which point the Mets will determine if he needs to face live batters before he is activated.
Wilson, who will travel with the team to Milwaukee to begin the upcoming road trip, has been out since April 23.
“It looked really good,” Callaway said of Wilson’s throwing session. “He’s getting closer and closer.”
Infielder Jed Lowrie (sprained left knee capsule) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk for Single-A Port St. Lucie Wednesday night as the free-agent acquisition continues his rehabilitation assignment. Lowie played five innings at shortstop and four innings at third base.
Jeff McNeil has now reached base safely in 26 of his 27 starts this year after going 1-for-4 with a double.
The Mets played host to Rutgers wrestling national champions Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano for the game. … New St. John’s basketball coach Mike Anderson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday.