The loss of Jeff McNeil for at least the remainder of the regular season will force the Mets to make decisions both at second base and around a roster spot.
The Mets entered the game Saturday short on personnel after learning their second baseman had broken his wrist, inserting Jose Iglesias at second base and failing to get a 28th man into Citi Field in time.
One plan that could change was to bring back DJ Stewart for a team short on left-handed hitters.
With Jesse Winker playing right field Saturday, the Mets were without a left-handed pitcher on their bench that consisted of Starling Marte, Tyrone Taylor, Pablo Reyes and Luis Torrens.
Stewart did not play in Saturday's game against Triple-A Syracuse, another sign he will likely be called up.
Syracuse's top hitter is Luis Ángel Acuña, who could eventually be factored into the plans, but not right away.
Iglesias, who has performed well against left-handed pitching this season, will likely see most of the time at second base, but maybe not all of it.
“Just like in the past, he'll play a couple of days and then rest a few days,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before Iglesias went 2-for-4 with a double and a nice double play in a 4-0 win over the Reds. “He's been pretty successful with this.”
Reyes, a veteran utility player, had an .840 OPS with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 59 games at Syracuse and could be used at second base at times.
Maybe Acuna will one day be like that, but the younger brother of the Braves superstar prospect is having a disappointing season with Syracuse, batting just .263 with a .668 OPS and lacking power through his first 125 games.
He stole 38 bases but was called out 13 times.
Mendoza said the Mets are still in discussions about a promotion, but that Acuna is at least an option.
Possible Syracuse movers include right-hander Luke Ritter, who has an .880 OPS through his first 121 games.
Francisco Lindor (0-for-3, walked one, earning his 100th run of the season) extended his career-best streak of consecutive games with an on-base streak to 35, tying him with David Wright for third-longest streak in franchise history and the longest single-season streak in Mets history.
His 16-game hitting streak was snapped.
Pitcher Kodai Senga pitched in the bullpen for the second time since injuring his calf.
Senga had not yet finished pitching when Mendoza spoke to reporters, but the right-hander was again expected to throw 25 pitches.
Stephanie Diller, widow of slain NYPD detective Jonathan Diller, threw the ceremonial first pitch.
So did the Rangers' Adam Fox, the Islanders' Anders Lee and the Devils' Brett Pesce.
— Additional reporting by Joel Sherman
