BALTIMORE — Jesse Winker’s return to the Mets lasted all of three plate appearances before the arrival of another harm concern.
The veteran DH departed Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Orioles in Game 1 of a doubleheader with back tightness and was scheduled for a return to New York for an MRI examination.
Winker popped out in the first inning and was changed in the lineup by Mark Vientos in the third.
Winker had returned Tuesday from a two-month keep on the injured record after rehabbing an indirect pressure.
Another veteran DH possibility, Starling Marte, was positioned on the IL this week with discomfort stemming from a bone bruise in his proper knee.
Jesse Winker of the New York Mets bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during recreation one of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium on May 4, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. Getty Images
In the quick time period, at least, it leaves Vientos — who these days had been restricted to receiving at-bats against lefties — as the team’s major DH possibility.
He began in that spot for the nightcap of the doubleheader after going 2-for-3 with a double in the first recreation. Vientos had began the day in a 2-for-27 (.074) nosedive.
“He hit the ball hard,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s a good hitter just going through it. Hopefully, that kind of game gets him going.”
The Mets recalled Luisangel Acuña from Triple-A Syracuse before Game 1, as Travis Jankowski was designated for task.
Acuña gives the team another possibility at second base and will also play heart area, according to Mendoza.
New York Mets’ Juan Soto (22) celebrates with Luisangel Acuna (2) after scoring on an RBI hit by Brett Baty (7) during the fourth inning in the second baseball recreation of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Baltimore. AP
The rookie, after coming into the recreation as a defensive alternative for Brett Baty at second base in Game 1, began at the place in the nightcap.
Mendoza said the plan when Acuña was optioned to Syracuse last month was for him to obtain 40-50 plate appearances before probably returning. He obtained 53 plate appearances.
“We knew how important he was for this ballclub,” Mendoza said. “The versatility, the speed — there is a lot of upside there. He was a big part of this team the first couple of months, and it got to the point where we said, ‘Let’s get him some everyday playing time [at Syracuse],’ and now it’s time for him to be back up here and continue to help us win baseball games.”
Paul Blackburn was scheduled to throw a bullpen session as he appears to be like to return from a proper shoulder impingement that has sidelined him since June 30.
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