David Wright injury: Mets 3B undergoing tests in New York

Both Team USA and the New York Mets got some bad news Thursday night. David Wright was scratched from lineup minutes before game-time against the Dominican Republic and has been sent to New York to undergo tests, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN.

The All-Star third baseman had apparently been playing through pain in his left rib cage since first suiting up for the US squad over a week ago, per the New York Daily News, but was pulled from the lineup Thursday when the Mets became aware of the nagging injury. For his part, Wright said that he was "fine to play" -- and his stellar WBC numbers seem to back that up -- but he understands the team's desire to check it out just in case.

Wright has a history of core/trunk injuries -- he missed 58 games in 2011 with a stress fracture in his lower back, and missed three weeks of camp last year with an strain in his side -- but it is unclear whether this one has anything to do with his previous troubles.

GM Sandy Alderson spoke with Rubin about the injury, but couldn't give any specifics about the injury or a timeline for Wright's return:

"David is flying directly to New York and will be up there today, be examined by our doctors there...

In terms of the injury and it's severity, we just don't know any more than David has related already publicly. So until he's actually examined, we won't know the exact nature of the injury."

Wright is expected to return to Mets camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Saturday. Whether or not he will return to Team USA -- if they make it to the semi-finals -- seems wholly dependent on the results of today's tests.