Carlos Mendoza’s changes to the lineup begin to yield results, revitalizing a subdued offense.

Mets Adjust Lineup Despite Loss to Athletics

Even though the Mets ended up losing, manager Carlos Mendoza’s recent lineup changes seemed to bring some positive energy for a brief moment.

In their game against the Athletics on Saturday, which finished 11-6 in favor of Oakland, the Mets managed to break out of a hitting slump, racking up 10 hits and hitting three home runs.

This time, Mendoza placed Bo Bichette in the cleanup position and moved Luis Roberto Jr. to the two-hole, with Jorge Polanco—a player who’s been suspended for two games—sandwiched between them.

“I just thought a little shake-up was in order,” Mendoza explained. “We’ve got some strong hitters at the top of the order. We wanted to mix things up. Having Polanco back definitely helps.”

Coming into this matchup, the Mets had only allowed three runs over their last four games, which was promising. However, they had gone silent for 17 consecutive innings before this game. This lack of offense has been concerning across the past 14 games.

The Mets suffered during the game, but players like Polanco, Bichette, and Francisco Alvarez were able to hit home runs. They managed to close the gap from 7-1 to 7-6. Unfortunately, in the eighth inning, Luke Weaver struggled, allowing four runs, which sealed the game.

“I had one last at-bat,” said Francisco Lindor. “As the game went on, I felt my at-bats getting better, but I still couldn’t seal the deal.”

Injuries have impacted the hitting lineup, notably Juan Soto’s calf strain and Polanco’s Achilles issue. Plus, many regular players, especially Lindor, are struggling—with Lindor’s batting average sitting at a low .167.

At one point during the game, Alvarez hit a ball that was ruled a home run, despite standing at second base when it happened.

Bichette noted, “These ups and downs happen, particularly at the start of the season. You can’t just treat it as a given. Improvement is a must.”

“Any team is better with those guys back,” he added, referring to Soto and Polanco. “But we can’t make excuses. We need to focus on our at-bats and elevate our performance—starting with me.”