3B competition far from over
Manager Carlos Mendoza said the team is not ready to make a call between Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, who have been in what the manager has termed a competition at third base since Vientos was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on May 15.
“We’ll continue to take it day by day,’’ Mendoza said after the Mets were rained out against the Dodgers on Monday at Citi Field. “We’ll find playing time for both and when we get to a point where we feel like we need to make a decision, we will do it. But as of right now, [we haven’t].”
Interestingly, prior to the rainout, the righty-swinging Vientos was in the lineup against Dodgers right-hander Gavin Stone, who has slightly better numbers versus righties than lefties.
Vientos, meanwhile, has an OPS of just .694 against righties compared to 1.585 versus lefties.
Mendoza said he didn’t know how he would handle Tuesday’s doubleheader at third base, but said he didn’t want either player to sit too long between starts.
The left-handed Baty had started at third the previous two games, when the Giants went with right-handed starters in both games.
“It can be matchup related,” Mendoza said of his decisionmaking.
“I don’t want to go more than three or four days without these guys being in the lineup, but they understand,’’ Mendoza said. “My job is to put them in position to have success . ... There’s a balance to it and right now, that’s what we’re working on.”
Asked before the game about not playing against a righty, Baty said, “It’s not my decision to make the lineup, so if I’m in there, I prepare the same way as if not. The biggest thing is winning ballgames.”
The results at the plate between the two have not been close of late, with Baty carrying an OPS of just .465 in his previous 16 games and Vientos putting up an OPS of 1.134 in his seven games since being recalled.
While the two third basemen battle it out, Baty has done some work at second base and shortstop, but Mendoza said he would only be used in the middle of the infield in an emergency.
So the Mets continue to play without a true backup middle infielder since Joey Wendle was released last week.
➤ Drew Smith (shoulder) reported no issues following his minor league rehab appearance Sunday. The right-hander will likely have three more rehab outings before he’s ready to rejoin the bullpen.
➤ Jose Butto was named International League Pitcher of the Week on Monday after a pair of strong starts for Triple-A Syracuse, when he whiffed 11 over 11 scoreless innings.
With David Peterson set to make his season debut Wednesday following offseason hip surgery, Mendoza said he has high hopes for the left-hander.
“We’ve seen in the past, his stuff is electric,” Mendoza said. “He has deception and life [on his pitches] and when he’s on, he can be pretty tough.”