Carlos Mendoza deliberate to let Mark Vientos play via his struggles — penciling him in at third base, and hitting second, for Friday’s collection opener towards the Dodgers — however the 25-year-old was scratched from the lineup for “precautionary reasons” roughly an hour earlier than the scheduled first pitch resulting from stomach soreness.
Vientos, who served as DH on this week’s three-game set in Boston, was changed by Brett Baty, making his fourth straight begin at third base.
Baty has been good within the discipline this season, making one error in 89 probabilities between third base and second base, whereas Vientos’ six errors rank among the many highest within the majors at his place.
“I wouldn’t say [he’s] pressing, I just see it as, the same way they go through struggles at the plate, they go through it defensively, sometimes,” Mendoza stated.
“A couple of missed plays here and there, especially some routine plays, maybe he’s thinking about that, but I don’t think he’s pressing because of the situation with Baty. Not at all. These two guys came up together. There’s always been a healthy competition. They root for each other. I don’t see it that way. If he continues to work hard, he continues to put in the effort, he’ll be fine.”
Vientos has additionally struggled to seek out the stroke that produced 27 house runs and an .837 OPS in 111 video games final season.
Coming into Friday, Vientos was hitting .232 with 5 house runs and a .674 OPS in 168 at-bats, having gone deep solely as soon as in Could.
By practically two months, the Mets rotation has posted the majors’ greatest ERA.
Quickly, the ceiling will develop.
Veteran Frankie Montas is scheduled to start a rehab project on Saturday with Excessive-A Brooklyn.
Mendoza stated Montas — who suffered a lat pressure in February after signing a two-year, $34 million take care of the Mets within the offseason — is anticipated to pitch two innings (30-35 pitches) after throwing dwell batting follow final week.
Mendoza additionally introduced that Paul Blackburn (knee) will make yet one more rehab begin for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. Blackburn, 31, has posted a 3.91 ERA in six minor league appearances this season.
Scratched for precautionary causes with stomach soreness
The Mets launched reliever Sean Reid-Foley.
Reid-Foley confirmed potential final yr earlier than a shoulder harm minimize his season brief, posting a 1.66 ERA in 21 2/3 innings with the Mets.
This season, the 29-year-old struggled in 15 video games with Triple-A Syracuse, recording an 8.36 ERA.
