WEST SACRAMENTO — Jose Siri was out of the lineup Sunday for the Mets’ series finale against the A’s, still in pain after fouling a pitch off of his left shin one day prior. The center fielder was still on crutches Sunday morning, unable to put any weight on the leg.
The Mets are unsure as to whether or not he’ll need to go on the injured list, but it sounds likely.
“I think we will have to have a conversation after the game and then maybe tomorrow,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “But with the way he’s feeling right now, I can see this potential. Unless he turns a corner here.”
The Mets have plenty of outfielders on the roster with Starling Marte and Jesse Winker primarily used as platoon DHs. But Tyrone Taylor and Siri already split time in center field so should they lose him to the IL, Taylor will likely see the bulk of the time in center field.
The Mets used Mark Vientos as a DH instead of Marte or Winker on Sunday against Luis Severino and the A’s, with Brett Baty at third base and Luisangel Acuña at second. Winker has been under the weather since before the team arrived in Sacramento and still isn’t 100%, and for Marte it was a scheduled day off.
Mendoza likened it to Vientos playing “half” of the game, with the Mets still getting his bat in the order, but getting him a break of sorts as a DH.
With Marte, the Mets are being cautious of the knee that sidelined him for part of last season. Marte still had to work through some issues with the knee during spring training, so the team is managing his workload through the early part of the season to avoid aggravation.
“This is a guy that, in spring training, didn’t play much, but was healthy enough to make the Opening Day [roster],” Mendoza said. “Now, even though he’s the DH’ing and we just had a day off, we’re playing 13 in a row. It’s just something that we will do throughout the year.”
Vientos hasn’t seen the results at the plate he’s hoped for, going just 6-for-50 (.120) with two doubles and one RBI to start the season. He was visibly frustrated in Miami two weeks ago, but with the Mets having won seven of their last 10 games, it’s helped him keep a positive mindset.
“We’re winning games and we’re doing well,” Vientos said. “It would be kind of different if we were losing, then I might be like, ‘Man,’ but we’re winning and I’m having good at-bats.”
Vientos hasn’t changed his routine or his swing, he doesn’t want to force change when it isn’t needed. Instead, he’s trusting the process. Mendoza wants his young third baseman to learn from this experience.
“He’s hitting the ball hard, he’s controlling the strike zone, so as long as he continues to do that, results will come,” Mendoza said. “That’s part of the learning process when you’re a big league player and not getting results — executing game plans, doing the things that you need to be doing. He’s going to be in a good spot if he keeps doing that.”