PHILADELPHIA — With Jose Siri active for the Mets‘ final 18 games, center field will become a platoon situation. Siri will face left-handers, as he did Tuesday when the Mets had him in the lineup for the first time since April, facing Philadelphia lefty Ranger Suarez. Cedric Mullins, the center fielder acquired to give the Mets more offensive production from that spot, will face right-handed pitching.
At least until Tyrone Taylor returns from the injured list, then the Mets will have more to figure out, but for now, the Mets have Siri back, activating him off the injured list Tuesday. A fractured left tibia suffered in early April had Siri sidelined all season, his first with the Mets. So for now, the Mets are going with a split to try to give Siri some run and let Mullins reset.
“We know we’re getting an elite defender and plus-baserunner,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Siri on Tuesday. “Even on days when he’s not in the lineup, to have a guy like that who can go out there and steal a base or score from first when you need to, it’s important, especially now with where we are on the schedule.”
Mullins hasn’t provided the Mets with much offense since the trade, hitting just .174 since leaving the Baltimore Orioles. He isn’t on time to hit fastballs and he’s chasing pitches. Taylor got the bulk of the at-bats in center field toward the end of August, but then he got hurt.
Jeff McNeil has played center as well, and the Mets plan to continue using him there to be able to capitalize on lineup flexibility.
Siri hasn’t seen a lot of live pitching since his injury, but he felt that he had surprisingly good timing during his minor league rehab assignment, and was able to go to Port St. Lucie to hit before those eight minor league games. He has no issues with lateral movement or pain in the outfield, and he’s back to running at full speed.
“My body usually recovers quickly,” Siri said through a team translator. “In this case, I had a couple of setbacks, but I never lost faith that I would be able to return.”
Mullins will still get plenty of chances, but if the Mets make the postseason, he might be one to leave off the roster if Taylor is healthy and his struggles at the plate continue. However, the Mets still have to get there first.
“I think talking to a bunch of different guys helps with creating a plan, creating a solid foundation of what you’re trying to do to make that correction,” Mullins said. “With 18-19 games left to go, there’s a lot that can be shifted in a positive direction.”
First baseman/OF Jared Young was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Siri on the roster. Right-hander Wander Suero was designated for assignment, and right-hander Justin Garza was outrighted to Triple-A.
