Lucas Duda out of Mets lineup with stiff right knee

Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, who has undeniably been the team's best hitter this year, is out of the team's lineuptonight in San Diego with a stiff right knee. Duda's knee was hit by a David Phelps pitch in the first inning of yesterday's Mets victory over the Marlins at Citi Field.

With Duda out tonight, Michael Cuddyer will play first base, while Darrell Ceciliani will play left field and bat sixth, ahead of center fielder Juan Lagares and catcher Kevin Plawecki, both of whom have struggled at the plate this year, and pitcher Jacob deGrom, who will bat ninth. There's probably a reasonable argument for deGrom moving up in the order here, even in the spirit of building a traditional lineup.

In 208 plate appearances this year, Duda has been spectacular. He's hit .298/.394/.539 with nine home runs a 163 wRC+, which ranks twelfth in baseball among qualified hitters.