Mets injury update: Travis d'Arnaud could start rehab games this weekend

Travis d'Arnaud could begin starting in rehab games this weekend and if all goes well he could rejoin the club sometime by the end of next weekend's homestand.

The Mets' catcher has been in Port St. Lucie swinging a bat and catching for about a week now, rehabbing from a sprained left elbow that he suffered on a play at the plate in Atlanta back on June 20. He is tentatively scheduled to start Thursday's game for the St. Lucie Mets. d'Arnaud has played in only 19 games this season, but has been a key part of the lineup when he's been there. In 77 plate appearances d'Arnaud is batting .296/.338/.535 with four home runs and 17 RBI.

Without d'Arnaud, Kevin Plawecki has filled in the majority of the time at catcher for the Mets this season. The rookie has been underwhelming in his trial by fire, batting .238/.283/.320 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 52 games. Anthony Recker and Johnny Monell have also received playing time and have been similarly ineffective offensively.