Herald wire services
NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom will return to the New York Mets’ rotation Sunday following a two-week absence caused by right forearm soreness, and Lucas Duda will come off the disabled list this weekend after recovering from a back injury that has sidelined the first baseman for nearly four months.
Manager Terry Collins says deGrom will be limited to about 75 pitches in his outing against Minnesota.
In addition, outfielder Juan Lagares was activated from the disabled list ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Twins. Sidelined since late July because of the thumb injury, Lagares will be limited to a defensive replacement role.
Infielder Wimer Flores, out since last weekend, said he had an injection of painkiller in his right wrist Thursday and hopes to return soon. Left-hander Steven Matz, who has not pitched since Aug. 14 because of shoulder tightness, is to throw a bullpen session Saturday.
Altuve returns for Astros
SEATTLE — All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is in the starting lineup for Houston as it opens an important three-game series at Seattle on Friday night.
Altuve is batting third and playing second base after leaving Wednesday’s game against Texas with discomfort in the oblique muscle on his right side.
Altuve stayed behind in Houston to be examined by team doctors on Thursday and did not fly on the team’s charter. After deciding Altuve could play despite the discomfort, he flew to Seattle late Thursday night to join his team.
Altuve is leading the American League with a .341 batting average, with 24 home runs and 94 RBIs.
While Altuve is in the lineup, the Astros will be without third baseman Alex Bregman, who left Wednesday’s game with a hamstring injury. Bregman did not travel with the team to Seattle. Yuli Gurriel started at third base on Friday.
Reds’ Hamilton to DL
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds placed center fielder Billy Hamilton and left-handed pitcher on the 15-day disabled list.
Both moves are retroactive to Sept. 5, leaving both players eligible to be activated on September 20.
Hamilton hasn’t played since Sept. 4 because of a strained left oblique. Reed hasn’t pitched since Aug. 29 for Triple-A Louisville because of low back spasms.
Broxton breaks wrist
CHICAGO — A promising season for Keon Broxton came to an awful end Friday.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ center fielder, who was putting on a strong finish to his rookie season in the majors, suffered a fractured right wrist when he collided with the wall in left-center during the third inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs.
The outfield walls at Wrigley are brick covered in ivy, not padded as in the rest of the major leagues, and Broxton paid the price for smashing into one. He raced back to make a great catch on Tommy La Stella’s drive leading off the Cubs third and could not slow down, smacking into the wall hard and remaining on the ground in pain.
Broxton tried to stick out his right arm to brace himself for contact and that’s how he fractured the wrist. He was led from the field by head athletic trainer Dan Wright, who held Broxton’s arm against his body as they walked off.
Gomes’ season ends
CLEVELAND — Indians catcher Yan Gomes has a broken right wrist, an injury that will likely end his season.
Gomes was set to be activated from the disabled list Friday and catch Corey Kluber when AL Central-leading Cleveland opened a critical three games series against the Detroit Tiger. However, Gomes was hit with a pitch during a rehab appearance Wednesday night for Double-A Akron.
Manager Terry Francona said an MRI revealed Gomes has a non-displaced fracture. He’ll visit a specialist to determine what to do next.
Gomes has been out since July 17 with a separated right shoulder. Gomes got hurt when he tried to beat out a play at first base against Minnesota.
It’s been a difficult season for the 29-year-old, who batted just .165 in 71 games. Francona credited Gomes “with willing himself back” before the latest injury.
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