WASHINGTON — Facing a tough left-hander in the series finale against the Washington Nationals, the Mets are without one of their best weapons against lefties, Jeff McNeil.
The super utility infielder/outfielder was out of the lineup Thursday with shoulder soreness.
McNeil has been battling a sore right shoulder for about a week now, which led to the Mets using him as a DH twice last weekend against the Seattle Mariners. The issue isn’t believed to be serious, and McNeil has been managing it with treatment. It doesn’t affect him swinging a bat, as is evidenced by his five-game hitting streak and his .429 average with five RBI and a home run over that span.
But when it comes to throwing, the Mets are limiting him for the time being. With Brandon Nimmo out of the lineup with neck soreness, McNeil would have been perfect to plug into left field, especially since it would have allowed the Mets to get his bat in the lineup along with Brett Baty’s by using Baty at second base. The shoulder, however, has eliminated him from being an outfield option, at least for the next 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,” manager Carlos Mendoza said 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 may be available off the bench, but the Mets would like to give him a full day off before heading to Atlanta for a weekend series against the Braves.
Most teams are banged up by the end of August, and the Mets are no different. Catcher Francisco Alvarez was placed on the injured list at the start of the series Tuesday, and Nimmo left Wednesday’s game with neck soreness. The Mets don’t expect to be able to use him off the bench Thursday, and he could have Friday off in Atlanta as well. Tyrone Taylor took his spot in left field against the Nats, and Starling Marte is able to play left field as well.
Cedric Mullins remained in center field. He’s comfortable playing all three outfield positions, but the Mets wanted to keep him in center for continuity.
The Mets have a .226 average against left-handed pitching this season, and a .664 OPS. However, they’ve been able to hit Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore in the past. The 26-year-old Gore has a 4.29 ERA against the Amazins’ in 35 2/3 innings.
FORMER MET WATCH
Right-hander Paul Blackburn was signed by the Yankees on Thursday after being released from the Mets earlier in the week.
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