Mets injury update: Travis d'Arnaud working toward rehab stint

For the second time this year, the Mets are eagerly awaiting Travis d'Arnaud's return from the disabled list. Recovering from a sprained left elbow suffered on June 20, the catcher is "moving closer to rehab games." That doesn't mean, however, that Mets fan should immediately expect him back behind the plate. Although he's making progress, his return is "not imminent."

Ten days after reappearing from a fractured hand, the 26-year-old sustained another fluke injury on a home-plate collision with A.J. Pierzynski. When healthy, he has brandished major offensive upside, hitting .296/.338/.535 with four homers. Despite missing more than three-quarters of the season so far, his 0.9 fWAR matches Juan Lagares and Ruben Tejada for fourth-most among Mets position players.

In his absence, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, and Johnny Monell are hitting a combined .208/.278/.296 with four homers. Tremendous pitching has kept New York in the playoff hunt, but they need a healthy d'Arnaud to upgrade their abysmal catcher production down the stretch.