Mets' Brandon Nimmo, held out, comes on for game-winning HR

New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmowas initially held out of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves because of soreness on his right side, but he came on as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 7th inning and won the game with a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.

Nimmo exited Saturday's game after the fourth inning with right intercostal irritation. He felt discomfort when he held up on a swing in the second and was checked by manager Carlos Mendoza and an athletic trainer.

After coming into the game as a pinch runner, Nimmo made a good catch in left field with the Braves leading 3-2 and then took A.J. Minter deep to seal a 4-3 comeback win for the Mets.

Nimmo, who is hitting .228 with five home runs and a team-high 25 RBI, said core testing went well and he wanted to see if he could play Sunday night. After being held out at the start of Sunday's game against the Braves, he was deemed good to go as a pinch runner.

"Everything looks good right now," Nimmo said. "... It's a little like, sore. So it's like as if you worked out on it or something like that maybe a little too much. But other than that, it's pretty good."

The Mets start a series vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

DJ Stewart replaced Nimmo in left field and the leadoff spot Sunday.

"I'm pretty optimistic that we caught it early," Mendoza said. "We were able to treat it last night, and he's feeling good today."

In other injury news, it's unclear when No. 1 starter Kodai Senga will throw live batting practice again or begin a minor league rehab assignment during his recovery from a right shoulder capsule strain.

Senga faced hitters twice in the past two weeks, but he's back to just throwing bullpens probably for the next week or so, Mendoza said.

"We don't want to put him at risk," Mendoza said. "He's very meticulous about his craft."

Elsewhere, right-hander Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks. He is expected to be reinstated from his rehab assignment this week, and the Mets must decide whether to bring him back to the big leagues or option him to Syracuse.

Right-handed reliever Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) could come off the injured list Monday or Tuesday, and left-hander David Peterson (left hip surgery) is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday at Double-A Binghamton and could be ready to come off the IL when eligible on May 27.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.