SAN DIEGO — The rotation continues for the Mets’ younger group of infielders, and it’s prone to proceed for some time longer, if not the remainder of the season. The Mets are doing what they’ll to place Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Luisangel Acuña in positions to succeed by taking part in the pitching matchups and capitalizing on their strengths.
Nevertheless, with the way in which Mauricio is taking part in, it shouldn’t be a shock if he finally ends up taking part in his means into an on a regular basis position at third base. After the primary four-hit recreation of his profession, he was again within the lineup Monday evening in San Diego batting ninth and taking part in third base. The Mets perceive how essential the underside of the order is to success, and proper now, Mauricio is offering some thump within the No. 9 spot, and a revitalized Francisco Alvarez is doing the identical from the No. 8 spot.
“It makes our lineup a lot deeper when you’re getting contributions up and down,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned Monday at Petco Park. “We’ve been giving these guys alternatives from Day 1. We mentioned in spring coaching that they had been going to get alternatives, and it’s been a grind with ups and downs, however that’s a part of a giant league life and improvement. It’s understanding that you simply need to undergo stretches the place it’s not straightforward, and also you’ve obtained to discover a means.
“They’ve done that.”
The Mets just like the defensive versatility of Mauricio, Acuña and Baty, who can all play second and third base, and Acuña and Mauricio can even play shortstop. Baty brings a left-handed bat and Acuńa has pace the Mets can benefit from late in video games. Vientos has been the odd man out, as of late, particularly with right-handed Starling Marte again and producing on the DH spot.
However the Mets aren’t going to let Vientos sit and flounder. He was used as a DH Monday towards right-hander Dylan Stop. With Marte’s damage points, they can provide Vientos some right-handed DH at-bats.
“I think it’s a combination of a lot of things,” Mendoza mentioned. “We saw the other day when we were facing a lefty, I wanted both. I think it’s more like pitcher matchups, pitch movement [with Vientos]. With Marte, I’ve got to take care of him too, especially with what he’s dealt with last year and this year, coming off the IL, we have to be smart with him.”
Marte returned to motion final week after lacking time when the knee damage from final season flared up, however he’s recorded two hits in every of his final six video games, courting again previous to occurring the injured listing. Vientos is using a six-game hitting streak as effectively.
As for whether or not or not the on a regular basis 4 of Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Juan Soto may have a time without work later within the season, so long as they’re wholesome, it’s unlikely.
“The thing with them is they understand that that’s their job,, and it’s not the first time that their goal is to play pretty much every game,” Mendoza mentioned. “They know that we are a better team when they’re in the lineup. They do a really good job of taking care of themselves, like monitoring their workload before the game. Especially once we get to the month of August and September, they maybe save some energy for seven o’clock. But it’s not a new territory for them. They post up and they take pride.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Proper-hander Paul Blackburn (shoulder impingement) acquired Monday off following his rehab begin with Triple-A Syracuse. The group’s medical workers will meet with him this week to find out the subsequent steps in his rehab plan, however the Mets haven’t dominated out a return to the Main League group later this week.
The studies from his five-inning rehab begin had been constructive.“The ball was coming out nice, 91-93 but just commanding the baseball,” Mendoza mentioned. “That’s what makes him who he is. This is a guy that can go in and out, up and down, changing speeds, and that’s what he did yesterday.”
Initially Printed: July 28, 2025 at 9:53 PM EDT
