NEW YORK -- Continued left oblique soreness has delayed José Reyes' Minor League rehab assignment a day or two, according to Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, eliminating any chance that Reyes returns from the disabled list before the weekend.
Initially, Reyes had been scheduled to play in a simulated game Monday, followed by rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday. A return would have been possible after that time. But Reyes still feels "a little bit of tenderness swinging from the right side," Alderson said Tuesday, prompting the Mets to "back up the rehab assignment a little bit."
A day later, the Mets rescheduled Reyes to begin a rehab assignment Thursday for Class A Short Season Brooklyn.
Just as before he went on the DL on July 30, Reyes feels completely fine batting left-handed. But right-handed swings irk his left oblique.
"That's diminished, but it hasn't completely resolved itself," Alderson said Tuesday. "So we're going to back him up a day or two."
Rehab roundup
• Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, who made his rehab debut Saturday for Class A Advanced St. Lucie, is scheduled to make a second Minor League start as soon as Thursday in Bradenton, Fla. Wheeler is slated to throw approximately 40 pitches in the outing.
• The Mets remain "hopeful" that Yoenis Céspedes will come off the DL as soon as he is eligible on Aug. 19, according to Alderson, but they are not committed to that date. Cespedes took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since the Mets placed him on the DL due to a lingering right quad strain.
• Asdrúbal Cabrera only recently began hitting off a tee left-handed -- relatively slow progress for the shortstop in his return from a strained left knee tendon. The Mets had originally hoped Cabrera would be able to come off the DL when eligible on Aug. 16, but they are no longer optimistic that will be possible.