Having been out since June 2 due to a strained hamstring, Mark Vientos is anticipated to return to Citi Field on Thursday and might even be part of the lineup for the series finale against Atlanta.
Vientos played a second straight rehab game at third base with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and picked up two hits.
“We’ll meet with the trainers, discuss with him, and determine whether he needs a rest day after consecutive games or if he’s ready to play for us,” Carlos Mendoza commented before the 7-3 victory over the Braves on Wednesday night.
If they decide not to play Vientos three straight days, he’d be expected to go in Pittsburgh on Friday.
Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio have mostly split time at third in Vientos’ absence.
All three players have struggled to produce, with Vientos experiencing a slump in his last 14 games prior to his injury, and Baty enduring a 6-for-52 stretch before collecting five hits in three games, including going 2-for-4 in Wednesday night’s win.
Finally, Mauricio was 5-for-34 before his ninth-inning double Tuesday and his 3-for-4 performance Wednesday, which included a solo home run.
All these three players’ struggles mean the Mets could certainly use the 2024 version of Vientos to spark what’s been a slumping offense.
After emerging with 27 homers and an OPS of .837 last season, Vientos struggled before the hamstring injury, with just six homers and a .678 OPS prior to the injury.
His step back offensively — as well as Francisco Alvarez’s — coupled with the lack of development from other young hitters like Baty and — for now, Mauricio — have helped lead to the Mets’ recent overall losing ways.
Alvarez, who left his first game with Syracuse with dizziness on Tuesday, completed Wednesday’s game, going 0-for-3 as the DH.
The Mets are looking for him to fix issues at the plate and at catcher after being demoted.
Jeff McNeil said he always wanted to play center field after being an outfielder in college.
On Wednesday, he showed he’s up to the task, as he climbed the wall in center to rob Marcell Ozuna of a homer in the top of the first.
It was his 13th game started in center this season after starting there just twice in his career before this season.
“He’s capable of playing multiple positions,’’ Mendoza said. “Second base, anywhere in the outfield. He’s never gonna say no.”
The Mets shook up their taxed bullpen a bit on Wednesday.
They recalled left-hander Brandon Waddell and selected righty Jonathan Pintaro to the roster.
The duo replaced the two left-handers that had previously spent time in the pen, José Castillo and Richard Lovelady, who were both designated for assignment after pitching in Tuesday’s loss to Atlanta.
Mendoza noted it was the sixth day in the past week the Mets have been forced to make a roster move affecting the pen.
Both newcomers pitched in Wednesday’s win, with Waddell tossing a scoreless inning and Pintaro — who’d never pitched above Double-A — allowing a pair of runs in two-thirds of an inning before Edwin Díaz closed it.
