New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda will start Tuesday after missing the last five games because of a lumbar strain, according to ESPN. Duda was hopeful to return Tuesday after logging a pinch-hit appearance Saturday.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda hopes to return to the starting lineup Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles after missing the last five games because of a back injury, according to ESPN New York. Duda could pinch hit Saturday and Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda is not in the lineup for the fifth consecutive game Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates because of a back strain, according to the team's official website. Mets manager Terry Collins intimated that the team could consider placing Duda on the disabled list if he did not return for Friday's contest after being a late scratch Tuesday, but he told the New York Post after the game that the team has been encouraged by Duda's progress, including batting practice and fielding grounders. “I would have to say right now it looks like [the disabled list] might be off the table, but we’ll have to see how he comes out of today,” Collins said. “And certainly going into tomorrow what he has to say, but the fact he felt so much better today is a good sign.” Daniel Murphy will start at first base in Duda's absence Saturday.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda hopes to return from his back injury Saturday, according to MLB.com. Duda is out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game Friday with a lumbar strain, but he plans to take batting practice ahead of a possible Saturday return.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to a back injury, according to ESPN. Duda has been out of the lineup since Tuesday, but at this point is not expected to go on the disabled list.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda hopes to start Friday after missing the last three games with a back injury, according to MLB.com. The Mets said when Duda was scratched Tuesday that they were not worried about the ailment, but manager Terry Collins said Thursday that if Duda can not play Friday the team would need to start thinking about placing him on the disabled list. "We hope with the medicine [he was given Wednesday] he's much better [Friday]," Collins told New York Newsday. "But I just talked to him a little bit ago. I said 'Listen, today we'll give you another day. I need you for this weekend.' If tomorrow it's not much better, we got to start thinking how we are going to make sure we stay healthy as a whole team because to play [undermanned] is sort of tough to do it when you're fighting for the pennant."

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda is expected to miss his third consecutive game Thursday against the Colorado Rockies with a sore back, according to the Bergen Record. Duda hopes to be well enough to play Friday.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda is not in the lineup for the second consecutive game Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies because of a back injury, according to the team's official website. Michael Cuddyer will start at first base in Duda's absence.

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda is out of the lineup Tuesday due to back stiffness, according to MLB.com. Duda's issue is not believed to be serious, but his availability off the bench and his status for Wednesday's game are still unknown.

Duda homered for the second straight game, blasting a solo home run to left center off Patrick Corbin on Saturday. Duda finally blasted a home run Friday and he didn't wait long to hit another one. The long ball was his 12th of the season, a far cry from the 30 he hit last year, but he has shown that when he gets on a roll, he can rip off several in a short span of time.