Jeff McNeil didn’t precisely be a part of the ability brigade towards Gerrit Cole and the Yankees on Tuesday, however he did a minimum of 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 Sequence-opening win at Citi Area, entered the evening hitless in his earlier 15 at-bats, one other dangerous stretch in what’s been a horrendous season.
However Carlos Mendoza mentioned he preferred 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 mentioned. “He hit three bullets.”
To Mendoza’s level, McNeil lined out thrice — as soon as at 105 mph, a second at 99 mph and a 3rd at 91.
Then McNeil obtained 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 recreation since June 9 towards the Phillies in London.
“I assumed he had good at-bats once more,’’ mentioned Mendoza, who famous McNeil had hit into some dangerous luck just lately.
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 towards a right-hander in that two-hit recreation versus Philadelphia in London.
Following that recreation, 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 mentioned McNeil might be within the combine to fill in for the injured Starling Marte in proper area, with Marte anticipated to be out a minimum of a month with a deep bone bruise in his proper knee.
“That’s in play,” Mendoza mentioned.
Complicating issues for McNeil has been the emergence of Jose Iglesias, who wasn’t in Tuesday’s lineup.
“With Iglesias taking part in the best way he’s taking part in, will probably be matchup-based and day-by-day,’’ Mendoza mentioned. “I gained’t hesitate to place McNeil in proper area.”
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 — wherever — shall be exhausting to justify if he doesn’t get away of this hunch.
Coming 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 gentle decline the previous two seasons for McNeil, who was the batting champ and had an OPS of .836 in 2022.
Mendoza, in his first 12 months within the Mets dugout, has steadfastly stood behind McNeil, however Iglesias has even hit right-handers higher than McNeil, whereas pummeling lefty pitching.
