Collins feeling better, back in uniform for banged-up Mets

NEW YORK (AP) Mets manager Terry Collins is back in uniform and feeling better. Not so for some of his top players, though.

Smarting second baseman Neil Walker (back) and left fielder Michael Conforto (left wrist) remained out of the starting lineup when New York opened an eight-game homestand Tuesday night against Pittsburgh. Center fielder Juan Lagares has a toothache - and general manager Sandy Alderson revealed that injured third baseman David Wright might need neck surgery.

Collins missed Sunday's loss in Milwaukee after feeling ''disoriented'' about 45 minutes before the game began. The 67-year-old Collins, the oldest manager in the majors, was taken to Froedtert Hospital in nearby Wauwatosa and kept overnight.

The Mets said Monday that tests on Collins were negative and he was cleared to fly home on the team's off day. He was back at Citi Field on Tuesday and met with reporters at his regularly scheduled time.