NEW YORK—A-Rod was reportedly cleared to play baseball at the conclusion of the third inning of the second game of the Mets–Pirates series on Monday after the pitcher was reportedly cleared to play baseball with a suspected torn MCL. "Well, we're going to be right on our heels for the next two games," manager Buck Showalter said to the Mets. "And, after that, we'll be right back out there again." Showalter said that even though it was a positive sign that A-Rod's MCL was dislocated, it would not have prevented him from playing baseball in the next game.