ST. LOUIS -- Congratulations were in order Tuesday for Mets second baseman Neil Walker and his wife, who welcomed a baby girl, Nora Vail Walker, into the world at 3:06 a.m. ET.
Walker, who fretted for weeks about making it home to Pittsburgh in time for the birth, was present after flying home on the Mets' off-day Monday. He spent Tuesday on Major League Baseball's paternity leave list, with infielder T.J. Rivera taking his spot in the starting lineup. Walker plans to be absent Wednesday, as well.
Beyond that, the Mets do not know. Manager Terry Collins said he will speak to Walker on Wednesday morning to determine if he will miss the entire three-game series in St. Louis or just two-thirds of it. In either case, Walker will be back Friday in New York at the latest.
Though the Mets have enough middle-infield depth to cover for him with Rivera, José Reyes and Asdrúbal Cabrera all healthy, they will welcome Walker's return to the lineup. He has been white-hot for most of August, batting .435 with six home runs since July 27.