NEW YORK -- The Mets placed outfielder Juan Lagares on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb Thursday, retroactive to June 15, and recalled utility man Ty Kelly from Triple-A Las Vegas.
The plan is for Lagares to rehab the injury rather than opting for surgery now.
"We've got to see if rest helps it at all," Mets manager Terry Collins said after the Mets' 6-4 win over the Pirates on Thursday night at Citi Field. "I'm not sure it's going to, but if he jumps into surgery, he's out two months anyway, so what's another 10 days to see if he feels any better?"
Lagares was scratched from the Mets' starting lineup on Wednesday before their victory over the Pirates because his hand stiffened up after hitting in the batting cages.
Lagares told Collins that his ailing thumb felt better on Thursday, but that was before he had participated in any baseball activities. Lagares originally injured his thumb making a diving catch against the Marlins on June 4.
Lagares is hitting .289 (26-for-90) with two home runs and six RBIs in 48 games this season while being one of New York's most proficient hitters against left-handed pitching, compiling a .306 batting average against southpaws.
In 10 games with New York this season, Kelly has gone 4-for-23 (.174).