The Mets have been with out two of their key lineup threats for the primary weeks of the season, however that would change within the coming weeks.
Each Jeff McNeil (indirect) and Francisco Alvarez (hamate bone) have been scheduled to move to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday after hitting outdoors at Citi Discipline earlier than the Mets’ 10-5 win over the Marlins on Tuesday.
Carlos Mendoza mentioned Alvarez would begin a rehab project with Low-A St. Lucie on Wednesday, whereas McNeil will probably be in prolonged spring coaching, with a rehab project to start probably this week.
The supervisor didn’t present a timeline for his or her return to the Mets, however they’re making steps in the precise route.
For Alvarez, Mendoza mentioned, “It’s gonna come down to him catching back-to-backs [games], nine innings and getting four or five at-bats [in a game].”
Having that development beginning Wednesday is encouraging.
“The actual fact he’ll play in video games in opposition to actual competitors is an effective signal,’’ Mendoza mentioned earlier than the Mets’ win.
Mendoza famous that since McNeil is coping with a strained indirect, his return may very well be extra difficult.
“Obliques are tricky,’’ Mendoza said of the strain. “We’ll continue to watch and monitor and see how he responds in games and when he faces fastballs and breaking balls and has to make swing decisions.”
The Mets have survived effectively sufficient with out each gamers, at the same time as Hayden Senger has needed to fill in for Luis Torrens behind the plate, with Torrens additionally out with a forearm contusion.
And McNeil’s replacements, Luisangel Acuña and Brett Baty, have been advantageous at second base, however neither has produced offensively.
“They are part of the everyday lineup,’’ Mendoza said of Alvarez and McNeil. “They’ll continue to make our lineup a lot deeper: a right-handed hitter with power [in Alvarez] and a lefty hitter in Jeff with bat-to-ball skills, a batting average guy that can also drive the ball. It adds balance to the lineup.”
The Mets held a second of silence for Octavio Dotel, the previous longtime MLB pitcher who died within the roof collapse within the Dominican Republic.
Dotel, 51, got here via the Mets system, debuted in 1999 and was traded to the Astros after the season within the deal that introduced Mike Hampton to Queens.
Earlier than the sport, Mendoza despatched his ideas to the handfuls who died in Santo Domingo.
“Thinking about our people in the Dominican Republic,” Mendoza mentioned. “It affected a lot of people there. We have a lot of Dominican communities in the baseball world. Our prayers to their families.”
Jose Siri entered as a defensive sub within the ninth, taking part in middle discipline and pushing Tyrone Taylor to proper.
Mendoza needed to present Juan Soto a small break on a depressing day to face within the outfield.
“This is something that I’m going to do once in a while,” Mendoza mentioned.
Earlier within the recreation, throughout a Mets pitching change, Soto left the sphere and sat within the bullpen, seemingly as a result of there have been heaters there.
“I like those guys back there,” Soto mentioned to laughs.
Hayden Senger (2-for-4, two runs) recorded his first profession multihit recreation. … Starling Marte (2-for-3, two RBIs, a steal) reached base 4 occasions. … Pete Alonso’s bases-clearing double gave him 601 RBIs for his profession, one among six gamers in franchise historical past with 600 or extra.
