Jeff McNeil not in Mets’ lineup due to shoulder pain

McNeill’s Shoulder Issue Keeps Him Off the Field

In Washington, Jeff McNeill’s right shoulder has been a concern, forcing him to sit out last Thursday’s game due to discomfort.

The Mets were already without Brandonnimo, who was sidelined with neck stiffness, adding to the team’s struggles. Manager Carlos Mendoza noted that McNeill’s issue hasn’t affected his ability to swing a bat—it’s mainly a problem when it comes to throwing.

Before the Mets fell 9-3 to the Nationals, Mendoza mentioned, “It doesn’t seem serious, but we’re taking it cautiously.” McNeill has been on a roll lately, with a batting average of .429 over his last 21 at-bats.

In the lineup that day, Brett Baty opened the game with a couple of strong plays and Tyrone Taylor filled the left field position. Mendoza had previously indicated that McNeill wouldn’t be seeing action in the outfield due to his throwing issues.

Despite his troubles, McNeill made a late-game appearance as a pinch hitter and took over in left field for the final inning.

Mendoza also revealed that McNeill had taken a designated hitter spot in the previous weekend’s games to manage his shoulder. “He feels it’s a big deal,” Mendoza said, although they aren’t planning any imaging and hope rest and medication will help.

Meanwhile, Ryne Stanek’s future seems uncertain after allowing four runs in the eighth inning. With a current ERA of 5.65 over 50 games and a staggering 18.56 ERA in his last outing, concerns are growing about his performance. When asked about Stanek’s spot on the team, Mendoza hesitated, saying, “We just finished the game… but he needs to improve. We’ll keep working with him.”

Additionally, Nemo is still dealing with persistent neck stiffness, which has been a recurring issue in recent seasons.

Hayden Senger started at catcher, though Mendoza mentioned that Louis Torrens was doing okay after a close call with catcher’s interference. Baty also extended his hitting streak to nine games, showcasing an impressive .488 on-base percentage during this stretch, along with two notable home runs in the series.