DJ Stewart is hardly a prototypical leadoff hitter, however an unorthodox look definitely didn’t damage the Mets on Sunday.
With Brandon Nimmo on the bench — at the very least in the beginning — after leaving the earlier recreation with an intercostal irritation, supervisor Carlos Mendoza went with the slugger Stewart at leadoff for the sequence finale towards the Braves.
Stewart reached base 3 times (two singles and a stroll) in 4 plate appearances earlier than Nimmo changed him as a pinch runner within the seventh inning.
Nimmo’s walkoff two-run homer within the ninth towards A.J. Minter allowed the Mets to flee with a 4-3 victory at Citi Area.
Stewart batted leadoff early in spring coaching — earlier than Nimmo started enjoying in video games — however beforehand hadn’t hit in that spot since his highschool days.
“It is a man that’s going to manage the strike zone,” Mendoza mentioned earlier than the sport. “He will get on base and can do injury. I’m simply attempting to combine some issues up with a whole lot of the lefties.”
Stewart entered play with a .185/.372/.415 slash line with 4 homers and 16 RBIs in 65 at-bats this season. Mendoza indicated he additionally thought of Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil for that spot.
Shintaro Fujinami has been sidelined at Triple-A Syracuse with a shoulder ailment.
The correct-handed reliever has appeared in 9 video games this season for Syracuse and pitched to a 14.09 ERA. Fujinami, who arrived over the winter on a one-year contract value $3.35 million, final pitched on Could 3.
Drew Smith is into account for a return from the injured record after showing in his second rehab recreation Saturday for Syracuse.
The correct-hander has spent the final three weeks rehabbing from proper shoulder soreness.
“The whole lot is trending in the appropriate course,” Mendoza mentioned.
Reed Garrett struck out three in two innings of labor.
The correct-hander has 35 strikeouts to guide all MLB relievers.
His six video games with three or extra strikeouts this season are the second-most within the main leagues for a reliever behind Oakland’s Mason Miller (seven).
![Reed Garrett reacts during the Mets' win over the Braves on May 12, 2024.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/reacts-getting-sixth-inning-new-81750679.jpg?w=1024)
Max Kranick cleared waivers and was outrighted to Syracuse.
The correct-hander was designated for task on Monday.
The Mets entered play with a 2.80 ERA at dwelling, which ranked first within the Nationwide League and third-best in MLB.