Carlos Mendoza by no means actually satisfied his star proper fielder he may benefit from a relaxation on Wednesday.
However the Mets supervisor had the ultimate name, and Juan Soto was absent from the beginning lineup for the primary time this season in the course of the Mets’ 4-0 loss to the Pirates of their sequence finale in opposition to the Pirates at Citi Area.
“It was a back-and-forth until I finally told him, ‘You’re going to be down,’ ” Mendoza mentioned, recounting his dialog with Soto following Tuesday’s recreation.
Mendoza mentioned he wished Soto to make the most of Thursday’s off-day, coupled along with his evening off Wednesday, to obtain an intensive break.
The Mets open the Subway Collection on Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Soto, in response to Mendoza, was “getting after it” within the weight room on Wednesday, as a substitute of simply stress-free.
“But that says a lot of who he is as a player, as a person, that on a day when he’s not in the lineup he’s getting after it pretty good in the weight room,” the supervisor mentioned earlier than the loss.
José Azocar (0-for-1) begin in proper subject with Starling Marte (1-for-3) because the DH.
Soto has one begin because the DH this season.
Ronny Mauricio will stay within the minor leagues as soon as his rehab project is full, in response to president of baseball operations David Stearns, except the Mets have a necessity on the most important league roster and deem the infielder able to contribute.
Mauricio, who was elevated final weekend to Double-A Binghamton, is rehabbing from surgical procedure to restore a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a subsequent process to take away scar tissue from the knee that value him all final season.
“He’s still got a little way to go to get back to being a healthy player, to get back into that true baseball shape, ready to compete at a high level in the big leagues,” Stearns mentioned. “It’s continuing to get him at-bats, get him reps in the minor leagues.”
Paul Blackburn will prolong to about 75 pitches in his rehab begin for Binghamton on Friday.
The suitable-hander will then obtain a minimum of one further outing within the minor leagues earlier than he’s thought of for a return from the injured listing.
Stearns mentioned Blackburn shall be constructed up as a starter, in case the Mets have a necessity within the rotation.
In any other case, he shall be obtainable to pitch from the bullpen.
“Where he slots in when he’s ready is going to be dependent on the team need,” Stearns mentioned.
Luisangel Acuña, who began at second base and went 0-for-3 with a stroll and two strikeouts, performed the ultimate two innings in heart subject.
It was Acuña’s first main league look within the outfield.
He didn’t have a fielding alternative after transferring to heart.
