LOS ANGELES — Luisangel Acuña’s part-time function at second base figures to shrink even additional with Ronny Mauricio’s arrival, however there might be another choice for him.
Supervisor Carlos Mendoza indicated Tuesday that heart subject may once more be mentioned for Acuña, who final month appeared within the first and solely recreation of his profession on the place, coming into play.
Jeff McNeil, Mauricio and Acuña are all second base choices.
Mauricio began at third base in his season debut on Tuesday.
A lot of Acuña’s enjoying time currently has been as a pinch runner and defensive substitute.
“Outfield is maybe a little bit more in play now, center field,” Mendoza stated earlier than the Mets’ 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Dodgers. “This is something we are going to have to continue to work at and try to get him some playing time.”
Acuña entered the day with a .590 OPS and 11 stolen bases.
The Mets optioned Max Kranick to Triple-A Syracuse and left-hander Brandon Waddell was recalled to offer the Mets a contemporary arm within the bullpen an evening after each reliever besides Reed Garrett pitched in a 10-inning victory.
Wadell pitched a scoreless seventh inning within the Mets’ loss on Tuesday evening.
Kranick, who surrendered a solo homer to Shohei Ohtani within the seventh inning on Monday, has pitched to a 3.51 ERA in 22 appearances for the Mets this season.
“[Kranick] has been a huge part of that bullpen and that was part of the message to him,” Mendoza stated.
Paul Blackburn, who pitched 5 shutout innings Monday in his first look this season, will doubtless be out there to pitch from the bullpen on Friday in Colorado, in line with Mendoza.
However Mendoza wasn’t ruling out the opportunity of the right-hander recovering sufficient to doubtlessly pitch if wanted a day earlier within the sequence finale towards the Dodgers.
Blackburn was inserted into the rotation as a sixth starter this week, however Mendoza is returning to a five-man rotation.
In a rehab begin for Syracuse, Frankie Montas allowed 5 earned runs on eight hits and one stroll over 4 innings.
He prolonged to 61 pitches. It was Montas’ third begin total as he rehabs a lat pressure that has saved him sidelined since spring coaching. Montas’ earlier two begins had been for Single-A Brooklyn.
Mendoza was requested if the choice by the Knicks to fireplace coach Tom Thibodeau stunned him.
Mendoza sighed.
“When you’re on this seat, man, anything can happen,” Mendoza stated.
In a Southern California rarity, rain canceled batting apply.
The tarp was faraway from the sphere about 90 minutes earlier than the scheduled first pitch.
