Jeff McNeil didn’t precisely be a part of the facility brigade in opposition to Gerrit Cole and the Yankees on Tuesday, however he did at the very least come alive a bit on the plate in a 9-7 win.
The slumping second baseman, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored within the Mets’ Subway Collection-opening win at Citi Area, entered the night time hitless in his earlier 15 at-bats, one other unhealthy stretch in what’s been a horrendous season.
However Carlos Mendoza stated he favored what he noticed from McNeil’s at-bats in Sunday’s win over the Cubs in Chicago, when McNeil failed to select up successful once more.
“He was higher Sunday,’’ Mendoza stated. “He hit three bullets.”
To Mendoza’s level, McNeil lined out 3 times — as soon as at 105 mph, a second at 99 mph and a 3rd at 91.
Then McNeil received a pair of singles out of the eight-hole in Tuesday’s victory and in addition stole a base.
It was McNeil’s first multi-hit sport since June 9 in opposition to the Phillies in London.
“I believed he had good at-bats once more,’’ stated Mendoza, who famous McNeil had hit into some unhealthy luck not too long ago.
Nonetheless, McNeil has been one of many few Mets hitters who has not seen an enchancment in manufacturing this month.
He had sat 4 straight video games, all versus lefties, earlier than he returned to the lineup in opposition to a right-hander in that two-hit sport versus Philadelphia in London.
Following that sport, although, McNeil went into one other funk, this one 3-for-36 (.083) with one extra-base hit, two walks and 6 strikeouts previous to Tuesday.
Mendoza stated McNeil could possibly be within the combine to fill in for the injured Starling Marte in proper subject, with Marte anticipated to be out at the very least a month with a deep bone bruise in his proper knee.
“That’s in play,” Mendoza stated.
Complicating issues for McNeil has been the emergence of Jose Iglesias, who wasn’t in Tuesday’s lineup.
“With Iglesias enjoying the best way he’s enjoying, it will likely be matchup-based and day-by-day,’’ Mendoza stated. “I gained’t hesitate to place McNeil in proper subject.”
Together with Tuesday, McNeil has began 66 video games at second and simply six within the outfield, all in left.
McNeil’s presence within the lineup — anyplace — will probably be onerous to justify if he doesn’t escape of this stoop.
Getting into Tuesday, solely Toronto’s George Springer had a decrease OPS amongst certified hitters than McNeil’s .572.
It’s a part of what’s been a gradual decline the previous two seasons for McNeil, who was the batting champ and had an OPS of .836 in 2022.
Mendoza, in his first yr within the Mets dugout, has steadfastly stood behind McNeil, however Iglesias has even hit right-handers higher than McNeil, whereas pummeling lefty pitching.
