Mets injury update: Bartolo Colon expected to make next start

After throwing only four pitches before leaving his Tuesday night start, Bartolo Colon will make his next scheduled start Sunday and could even appear in relief this week, Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Colon retired only one Royal batter Tuesday before Kansas City second baseman Whit Merrifield lined a ball off his right thumb. X-rays later came back negative and the Mets diagnosed the injury as a contusion.

“He's doing fine," Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters on Wednesday morning. "He has a little swelling left, but good flexibility, good strength. Right now, we're certainly planning on having him start on Sunday."

Colon’s thumb injury was just one of four scares this week for a team already riddled with injuries. Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard both left Wednesday’s game with ailments, and Zack Wheeler reported pain in his elbow amid his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Like Colon, all three have been cleared from any serious injury.