NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltran is out with the flu, further depleting the New York Mets’ injury-riddled lineup against Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels.
Scott Hairston was set to start in right field and bat third Saturday in place of Beltran, who homered and scored twice in Friday night’s 7-2 loss to the first-place Phillies.
Mets manager Terry Collins says the All-Star slugger developed a very high fever during the night. Collins wasn’t sure if Beltran would be at the ballpark.
Beltran was hitting .287 with a team-high 14 homers and 59 RBIs. New York also is missing injured shortstop Jose Reyes, third baseman David Wright and first baseman Ike Davis.
Hairston began the day with a .353 career average (6 for 17) and three homers against Hamels, one of Philadelphia’s three All-Star starters.
