Brandon Nimmo felt better moving around on Sunday than a day earlier, when he departed with right intercostal discomfort, but caution dictated his absence from the Mets’ starting lineup.
The outfielder was set to further test his wellness taking pregame swings after initial strength tests on his core muscles provided what Nimmo said were positive results.
“It’s a little sore as if you worked out on it a little too much,” Nimmo said before the Mets faced the Braves at Citi Field. “But other than that it’s pretty good.”
Nimmo felt the rib cage discomfort on a swing Saturday, but remained in the game to finish his plate appearance with a walk before running the bases.
He was later removed as a precaution.
The main concern, Nimmo said, was on potential check swings.
DJ Stewart started in left field and batted leadoff in Nimmo’s spot for the series finale.
Nimmo said he told Carlos Mendoza on Saturday that he wanted to assess his situation before Sunday’s game for possible inclusion in the lineup, but the manager wouldn’t hear of it.
“He’s like, ‘No, it’s May and we need you,’ ” Nimmo said. “I respect that and really appreciate that coming from your manager. But that’s the way it’s supposed to work: I’m supposed to want to play … [Max] Scherzer used to say, ‘I would rather tame a lion than push a donkey,’ so that is the way it is supposed to work.”
Shintaro Fujinami has been sidelined at Triple-A Syracuse with a shoulder ailment.
The right-handed reliever has appeared in nine games this season for Syracuse and pitched to a 14.09 ERA.
Fujinami, who arrived over the winter on a one-year contract worth $3.35 million, last pitched on May 3.
Drew Smith is under consideration for a return from the injured list after appearing in his second rehab game Saturday for Syracuse.
The right-hander has spent the last three weeks rehabbing from right shoulder soreness.
“Everything is trending in the right direction,” Mendoza said.
Max Kranick cleared waivers and was outrighted to Syracuse. The right-hander was designated for assignment on Monday.
The Mets entered play with a 2.80 ERA at home, which ranked first in the National League and third-best in MLB.