INF Jed Lowrie hurts hamstring, delaying Mets debut

WASHINGTON (AP) — Infielder Jed Lowrie’s debut for the New York Mets is being delayed because he strained his hamstring while in the minors to work his way back from an injured left knee.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before Tuesday night’s game at the Washington Nationals that Lowrie will head back to Florida and be reassessed in a couple of weeks.

Lowrie signed a $20 million, two-year contract as a free agent this offseason but felt pain in his left knee early in spring training and began the season on the injured list.

He’s been playing at Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets were hoping to call him up this week. But the 35-year-old Lowrie had a setback with the hamstring over the weekend, and was seen by a doctor Monday.

“He’s down about it. He’s frustrated. He wants to come up here and help the team,” Callaway said.

Lowrie was a first-time All-Star last season with a career-high 99 RBIs for Oakland.

In other injury news, Callaway said left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday as he comes back from left hamstring tightness, while lefty Steven Matz planned to play catch to test his left forearm irritation. Matz went on the IL on May 5, and Vargas a day earlier.