Mullins’ Comeback and Lineup Adjustments for Mets

In Philadelphia, Cedric Mullins made his return to the starting lineup for the Mets on Tuesday. This marked his first game since the trade deadline on August 2.

As the Mets gear up for the end of the season, their approach is shifting slightly. Coach Carlos Mendoza mentioned that they will be considering player matchups and perhaps going with whoever seems to be performing well in center field after activating Jose Siri from the injured list.

For the time being, the plan is to utilize Siri, who is set to bat right-handed against left-handed pitchers, beginning with a matchup against Suarez in Philadelphia.

Mullins, a left-handed hitter, primarily faces right-handed pitchers, even though his track record this season shows he performs better against lefties. But honestly, with the Mets, it feels like he hasn’t really hit well, regardless of who’s pitching. This raises the possibility of switching him out and maybe even giving Siri a chance to shine, or possibly bringing in prospect Drew Gilbert, who has started his career strong after being traded.

Mendoza remarked, “I know Cedric has some good numbers against left-handers, but he’s definitely been having a tough time recently.”

Siri is recognized for his stellar defense and solid throwing arm, attributes the Mets have missed this season due to his injury issues early on. He mentioned that after rehab assignments that included stints in Low-A St. Lucie and Triple-A Syracuse, he feels fully healed and ready to contribute.

“These feet are completely healed,” he said through an interpreter, noting his season batting average with both teams.

Potentially, Siri could serve as a dynamic defensive alternative or a fast pinch runner. For a team that has struggled to find stability at center field all season, his presence might offer more flexibility. Mullins, meanwhile, has been struggling with a .601 OPS, which isn’t much to write home about.

Prior to his trade, Mullins had a respectable .738 OPS with the Orioles. However, he hasn’t matched that performance with the Mets. After a disappointing outing recently, he mentioned that he’s been trying to adjust but feels he lost the tweak that was working for him. He still hopes to regain that form.

According to co-director Jeremy Burns, Mullins aims to make harder contacts with the ball going forward.

Burns observed that Mullins’ swing length has been an issue, stating, “When you have a lot of length, you have to make adjustments sooner.” It’s a bit of a mental game, too; as Burns pointed out, Mullins appears to be more direct against lefties because he has to be.

On Tuesday, Burns noted that Mullins’ pre-game work looked promising, giving the Mets hope he can turn things around as they head into the second half of the season and towards the postseason.

With only a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season, there’s a slim window for Mullins to demonstrate he deserves a spot in the postseason lineup—though time is running out.

Mendoza concluded, “You play matchups, you play hot hands, whatever you want to call it. We’ll go from there.”