New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto (30) leaves the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning with an injury at Tropicana Field. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil head to IL with hamstring strains

It turns out the New York Mets had an even worse weekend at the Tampa Bay Rays than just being swept. 

Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reported early Monday afternoon that outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil are heading to the injured list after MRIs showed they are dealing with hamstring strains. 

Conforto hurt his right hamstring running to first base in the first inning of Sunday's loss at Tampa. McNeil, meanwhile, tweaked his left hamstring trying to beat out a ball at first base while serving as the designated hitter. He was playing through body cramps that first began bothering him last Tuesday. 

That pair will join ace Jacob deGrom and nine other Mets players on the IL. Thosar added the Mets may not know the severity of the hamstring strains until Tuesday.

Despite the weekend they'd likely prefer to forget, the Mets head into Monday's series opener at the Atlanta Braves in first place in the National League East standings at 18-16, 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

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