Bo Bichette’s Injury Update
Bo Bichette missed his second consecutive game on Saturday due to “right ankle soreness,” as indicated by Mets interim manager Andy Green. The discomfort followed a series of foul balls that struck his feet during a recent game in Atlanta.
Despite his injury, Bichette managed to pinch hit for Zach Short in the seventh inning of the game against the Red Sox, which ended in a 4-0 loss for the Mets. With two outs and a runner on first base, he walked and then was substituted for pinch runner Tyrone Taylor.
Green mentioned that Bichette might be more effective as a pinch hitter at this time. There’s also a possibility he could sit out game on Sunday as the team heads into the All-Star break.
“It’s a day-to-day situation,” Green remarked before the game, acknowledging Bichette’s toughness.
The season has been up and down for Bichette since he joined the Mets in the offseason. Recently, however, he has shown improvement, racking up a solid 8-for-18 in Atlanta and hitting a double every game he played there.
Unfortunately, those positive numbers took a hit, as he only managed 2-for-13 over the next three games before needing to sit out against the Red Sox.
Interestingly, after starting the season with a .570 OPS in his first 61 games, Bichette improved to an .870 OPS in the subsequent 33 games leading up to Saturday.
With Bichette absent, the Mets turned to Brett Batty at third base. Batty had a tough outing, going 0-for-3 and drawing a walk, which snapped his hitting streak at ten games.
Injury Updates on Other Players
On another note, Andy Green mentioned that Marcus Semien is “close to a rehab assignment.” Semien has been on the sidelines since June 25 due to a torn left hip flexor but appears to be recovering well. The upcoming All-Star break, however, poses a challenge for finding rehab games in the minor leagues.
Green, who previously worked in player development, expressed some hesitance about having Semien or any other player face inconsistent pitching in Florida’s Complex League games.
He noted that Semien has been “running aggressively” and looks good but might struggle without ample high-level rehab matches.
The situation is somewhat similar for outfielder Louis Robert Jr., who has been out since late April with a lumbar herniated disc. According to Green, Robert had a good night at the plate in a recent rehab game and is nearing a return to the team.
Whenever that happens, it may lead to some tough decisions for the Mets.
On a brighter note, AJ Ewing and Carson Benge have emerged as notable players. While Ewing has the ability to play center field, the team is reluctant to consider moving him to second base unless absolutely necessary.
Kodai Chiga’s Versatility
Kodai Chiga has taken on various roles for the Mets throughout the season. He pitched a scoreless inning in a recent loss, and Green hasn’t ruled out the possibility of using him again in that capacity.
“It’s not something he’s accustomed to,” Green said, adding that they’ll see how Chiga handles such opportunities.
Chiga’s velocity and skill with a forkball could make him a valuable asset in the bullpen, but Green also mentioned the need to assess whether Chiga can physically handle that role.
“We’ll see. He has potential to be both an elite starter and a strong back-end player,” Green concluded.
Team Roster Changes
The Mets have announced that right-handed pitcher Alex Carrillo has been taken off the major league roster, and right-hander Matt Seelinger has been sent to Triple-A Syracuse.
