Mets injury update: Lucas Duda scratched with sore back

First baseman Lucas Duda has been scratched from tonight's lineup due to a sore back. The injury is not expected to be a concern, according to manager Terry Collins. Daniel Murphy will slide over to first base, while Wilmer Flores will play second base, Ruben Tejada will man shortstop, and Juan Uribe will occupy third base.

The Mets will face Rockies' left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin, who has been much more vulnerable to right-handed hitters over his career, so perhaps this was as good a day as any to give Duda a rest. Right-handers have hit .304/.373/.487 off of Rusin, while left-handers have managed to hit .271/.300/.424 off of the 28-year old.

Should Duda return to the lineup tomorrow, the Mets will be welcoming back one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Since the All-Star break, no hitter in baseball has had a higher average exit velocity than Duda's 96.4 miles per hour. In that span, the hulking first baseman has hit .267/.347/.640 with nine home runs over 98 plate appearances.