Mets’ Brett Baty appears to have avoided injured list stint
The Mets may have caught Brett Baty’s left hamstring tightness early enough to prevent an injured list stint.
Baty was absent from Wednesday’s starting lineup, a day after he was removed from the game with discomfort in the leg, and manager Carlos Mendoza expressed optimism the third baseman won’t need an extended absence.
“It looks like we caught it early here,” Mendoza said before the Mets beat the Pirates 9-1 at Citi Field. “Early reports are encouraging.”
Baty experienced the tightness after beating out an infield hit.
He remained in the game to play defense in the bottom of the inning before he was removed.
Thursday’s scheduled off day ahead of the Mets’ weekend series at Dodger Stadium will provide Baty with an extra day of rest.
Zack Short got the start at third base on Wednesday, a night after Joey Wendle entered the game in that spot.
Baty’s fast start has been a significant factor in the Mets’ offensive surge after an 0-5 start.
Over his last 11 games Baty is 14-for-41 (.341) with a .372 on-base percentage.
Francisco Lindor delivered a sixth-inning single against Hunter Stratton, raising his .098 average (5-for-51) as a left-handed hitter.
His early-season struggles have been less pronounced batting right-handed.
“Him being right-handed dominant, I think that right hand gets there with ease,” Mendoza said. “With the left side there’s more mechanics. It’s just one of those things right now where from the right side he is seeing the ball better and working through some things on the left side.”
The Mets claimed reliever Michael Tonkin off waivers from the Twins.
To create roster space, reliever Tyler Jay was designated for assignment. Tonkin was previously DFA’d by the Mets this season.
The Mets trailed 1-0 before scoring nine unanswered runs.
It was a seventh comeback victory for the Mets, tying them for first in MLB with the Orioles in that category.