Manuel: Alou scratched from weekend rehab

Here is some news from Jerry Manuel’s pregame discussion with reporters: • Scratch Moises Alou from the weekend rehab with Binghamton. Alou saw a doctor Wednesday, who advised him to wait until at least after the weekend. Jerry Manuel still hopes Alou will return before the All-Star break. • The Mets had decided to place Luis Castillo on the DL before yesterday’s game and planned to take advantage of backdating and the All-Star break to limit the games lost, but they used him in the ninth out of necessity. Damion Easley will get the bulk of the starts at second base, with slap-hitter Argenis Reyes getting the other duty there. Castillo will have an MRI in New York. • Manuel said Duaner Sanchez should be good to pitch tonight. Also, if he’s used Aaron Heilman a lot in the seventh, that doesn’t mean Heilman has been assigned that inning. In fact, Manuel wants his starters to go six, then use the seventh as a match-up inning for his relievers. • ... (link)