WASHINGTON — Going through a tricky left-hander within the collection finale towards the Washington Nationals, the Mets are with out one in every of their greatest weapons towards lefties, Jeff McNeil.
The tremendous utility infielder/outfielder was out of the lineup Thursday with shoulder soreness.
McNeil has been battling a sore proper shoulder for a few week now, which led to the Mets utilizing him as a DH twice final weekend towards the Seattle Mariners. The problem isn’t believed to be critical, and McNeil has been managing it with therapy. It doesn’t have an effect on him swinging a bat, as is evidenced by his five-game hitting streak and his .429 common with 5 RBI and a house run over that span.
However with regards to throwing, the Mets are limiting him in the intervening time. With Brandon Nimmo out of the lineup with neck soreness, McNeil would have been good to plug into left area, particularly since it will have allowed the Mets to get his bat within the lineup together with Brett Baty’s by utilizing Baty at second base. The shoulder, nonetheless, has eradicated him from being an outfield choice, no less than for the subsequent few days.
“Maybe in an emergency with Nimmo being down, but with the throwing, it’s kind of like he’s feeling it big time,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned Thursday at Nationals Park. “We don’t think it’s anything serious. We’re not planning on taking imaging or anything like that. We’re going to put him on a medicine, and hopefully we’ll calm it down. But it’s just the throwing part.”
McNeil could also be accessible off the bench, however the Mets wish to give him a full time off earlier than heading to Atlanta for a weekend collection towards the Braves.
Most groups are banged up by the tip of August, and the Mets are not any completely different. Catcher Francisco Alvarez was positioned on the injured listing at first of the collection Tuesday, and Nimmo left Wednesday’s sport with neck soreness. The Mets don’t anticipate to have the ability to use him off the bench Thursday, and he might have Friday off in Atlanta as properly. Tyrone Taylor took his spot in left area towards the Nats, and Starling Marte is ready to play left area as properly.
Cedric Mullins remained in heart area. He’s comfy taking part in all three outfield positions, however the Mets wished to maintain him in heart for continuity.
The Mets have a .226 common towards left-handed pitching this season, and a .664 OPS. Nevertheless, they’ve been capable of hit Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore previously. The 26-year-old Gore has a 4.29 ERA towards the Amazins’ in 35 2/3 innings.
FORMER MET WATCH
Proper-hander Paul Blackburn was signed by the Yankees on Thursday after being launched from the Mets earlier within the week.
Initially Printed: August 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM EDT
