KANSAS CITY – The Mets have placed Jesse Winker on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation and plan to treat him with medication for the next four to seven days.
“Not an injection for now,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “If this doesn’t work, then that’s probably the next step. Hopefully, the medicine works here. Four to seven days and we’ll see where we are.”
Winker had just returned on Tuesday after missing more than two months with a right oblique strain. But Winker exited Game 1 of the Mets’ doubleheader in Baltimore on Thursday after experiencing back tightness.
Mendoza said the Mets’ medical staff told him the back inflammation is not related to the previous oblique strain.
“That was my first question,” Mendoza said.
Mark Vientos was penciled into the lineup as the designated hitter on Friday as the Mets prepared to open a weekend series in Kansas City. Mendoza indicated he will mix and match at the DH spot as the club learns more about how long Winker may be sidelined.
The Mets also recalled infielder Jared Young from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday amid a flurry of roster moves that will enable New York to welcome back two key pieces of its pitching staff. Kodai Senga returned from a right hamstring strain to draw the start for Friday’s series opener and Sean Manaea (right oblique and left elbow injuries) is slated to come off the injured list and follow Clay Holmes on the mound on Sunday.