Mets first baseman Lucas Duda (back) placed on disabled list

The New York Mets have placed first baseman Lucas Duda on the 15-day disabled list with a strain in his lower back, the team announced Saturday.

The New York Mets have placed first baseman Lucas Duda on the 15-day disabled list with a strain in his lower back, the team announced Saturday. 

A back ailment kept Duda out of the starting lineup for six games last week. His only action between Aug. 10 and Aug. 18 came when he was used as a pinch hitter in the Mets’ extra-innings loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 15.

Duda left in the seventh inning of Friday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies when the discomfort returned. 

“It just kind of jammed up again,” Duda said after the game, according to ESPN.com.

Duda will visit spinal specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in California this week, he told reporters. 

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During Duda’s previous absence, Michael Cuddyer and Daniel Murphy split time at first base. Cuddyer is starting their in Saturday night’s game in Colorado. 

Duda, 29, is batting .247 this season and leads the Mets with a .346 on-base percentage and .472 slugging percentage. He is hitting .295 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in his last 18 games. 

Lefthanded relief pitcher Dario Alvarez was called up from Triple A Las Vegas to take Duda’s spot on the roster. 

- Dan Gartland