Mark Vientos was out of the Mets lineup for the second straight recreation. Nevertheless, it’s not an damage to the third baseman — the Mets merely have quite a lot of versatile items they’ll use to create optimum matchups in opposition to opposing pitchers.
In opposition to Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon on Friday, the Mets used left-handed hitter Brett Baty at third base as an alternative of Vientos and hit him sixth, adopted by second baseman Luisangel Acuña hitting seventh, Jeff McNeil on the DH spot hitting eighth, and Tyrone Taylor hitting ninth.
The plan was initially to make use of McNeil in middle discipline, however after he slid awkwardly on his hip in Arizona on Wednesday, the Mets felt it greatest to make use of him because the DH.
“I wanted him in the lineup,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned of McNeil. “That’s the whole reason behind getting the lefty in there.”
The numbers may make it appear to be a wierd choice since Taillon is holding left-handed hitters to a .161 common this season, whereas right-handers are hitting .290 off of him. Nevertheless, Vientos has had an up-and-down begin to the season. The 25-year-old struggled on the plate to start out the season earlier than the exhausting contact lastly began to end in hits. And whereas his glove has been high-quality, it hasn’t precisely been nice.
Nevertheless, he’s hit safely in his final 5 video games to carry his common as much as .220, so he gained’t be on the bench for lengthy. Mendoza mentioned it’s not a “strict platoon matchup” however he needed to get McNeil, Baty and Acuña within the lineup.
Acuña has been a spark plug of kinds for the lineup however was left on the bench twice in Arizona earlier within the week. Discovering at-bats for a younger participant who has proven a capability to contribute off the bench is necessary so he can proceed to develop within the large leagues.
“It’s what every player goes through at the big league level — being able to do it day in and day out,” Mendoza mentioned of the 23-year-old infielder. “He’s going to have to make some adjustments, and that’s the challenge. That’s why it’s not easy to play at a high level day in and day out, and it’s always an adjustment period here for the younger players when they get to the big leagues, because the teams will make adjustments. So I think that’s the next level for him.”
Pitchers are going to determine find out how to neutralize Acuña on the plate. Rookies are susceptible to slumps for that reason, and those who make it out of these slumps are those who be taught to hit their means out of them.
Acuña has but to hit that time, however he’s additionally not taking part in every single day. It’s a distinct problem, however one the Mets assume he can deal with.
“We know the tools, we know he’s having success, and we know everything that he brings to the table,” Mendoza mentioned. “But I think as he continues to get opportunities, teams will adjust to it, and he’s going to have to make some adjustments as well.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Proper-hander Frankie Montas (lat pressure) is developing on a giant benchmark in his rehab. After 4 bullpens, the starter is lastly on the brink of face hitters, which might occur by the top of subsequent week.
Proper-hander Paul Blackburn (knee irritation) will make one other rehab begin Sunday, this one with Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets need to stretch him out to 70 pitches, and he’s scheduled to throw 50 on Sunday. Mendoza estimates that Blackburn would wish three or 4 extra rehab begins to achieve that threshold.
