Baltimore Update on Mark Vientos and Mets’ Roster Changes

Mark Vientos has started a season that many thought would significantly impact the Mets’ lineup, but his recent performance has unexpectedly landed him on the bench.

With Starling Marte currently out due to injury, Vientos is expected to have a chance to serve as the designated hitter against left-handed pitchers, but he may still find himself waiting for more consistent playing time.

Coach Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the situation, mentioning Vientos’ role in the team while discussing the lineup options, particularly with players like Ronny Mauricio and Brett Batty getting time on the field. He noted, “He’s a big part of this team,” before Wednesday’s game against the Orioles, which was postponed due to rain.

Jesse Winker, who came off the injured list recently, is likely to take the majority of DH opportunities. In his last game, Vientos pinch-hit and went 2-for-2, which was a bit of a bright spot considering his overall struggle with the bat; he’s currently at .074 with two hits in 27 at-bats since returning from his injury.

This season, Vientos has a slash line of .210/.272/.341 with six home runs across 235 plate appearances, which definitely isn’t what anyone expected at this point.

Meanwhile, David Peterson is set to be the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the Mets’ split doubleheader on Thursday, scheduled for 12:05 PM. Davidson’s role for the second game at 5:05 PM hasn’t been confirmed, but if Justin Hagenmann isn’t used in relief earlier, he’s expected to take the mound.

On another note, the Mets’ rotation should remain stable despite upcoming All-Star breaks, which typically could complicate things.

As for Kodai Senga, he has completed his bullpen session and looks good to go for the series opener against Kansas City on Friday, following recovery from a right hamstring strain.

Brandon Nimmo is gearing up for a significant milestone as he approaches his 1,000th game in a Mets uniform. He’ll join an exclusive list, becoming the 11th player in franchise history to reach this mark, closing in on Ed Kranepool’s record of 1,853 games played with the Mets.

In pitching news, Alex Carrillo took the mound on Tuesday, marking him as the 36th pitcher the Mets have deployed this season, closing in on their team record of 42 pitchers from 2021.