Mets' Duda not on track to come off disabled list as scheduled

Apr 22, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda (21) singles to center during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda is no longer a sure bet to come off the 15-day disabled list this weekend.

Duda has been sidelined since Aug. 21 due to stiffness in his lower back and is eligible to come off the DL on Sept. 6, but he has not even started swinging a bat while rehabbing at the team's facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

"I don't know how close he is," Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday. "I know he's getting his therapy inside and goes out, doing what he should be doing. He's played catch, so that was a good sign."

Duda, who is dealing with a small thoracic disc herniation, was batting .247 with 21 homers and 56 RBIs when he was injured and had a career-high 30 blasts last year.

(h/t New York Daily News)