CLEVELAND -- Because it was oft-injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud, and not another player who left Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Indians after being hit on his left elbow with a pitch, concern seemed only natural. But X-rays on d'Arnaud's elbow were negative, and the Mets diagnosed him with only a bruise. He is day to day.
"It shouldn't be too long," d'Arnaud said. "But we'll see."
Initially, d'Arnaud stayed in the game, wincing at first base, after Indians reliever Zach McAllister hit him on the elbow with a 93-mph fastball. But "it just kept getting more stiff and didn't loosen up," in d'Arnaud's words, prompting him to tell a trainer. He did not return behind the plate in the bottom of the inning, giving way to backup Kevin Plawecki.
A more serious injury would not have been anything new for d'Arnaud, who missed nearly two months last year after an errant pitch broke a bone in his right hand. Thoughts of that injury ran through d'Arnaud's mind when McAllister's fastball struck him, but the negative X-rays gave him some peace.

"It's going to probably be pretty sore the next couple days," manager Terry Collins said. "He had a little trouble straightening his elbow, bending it. So we'll keep an eye on it."
The Mets entered this season hoping that d'Arnaud might stay healthy all year long for the first time in his career. Until Saturday, he had, though his on-field production continued to lack. Going 1-for-2 before leaving Saturday's game, d'Arnaud increased his season slash line to .120/.267/.160.