Tricky Mets roster decision looms as Mark Vientos nears return
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets could be facing another significant roster decision as soon as Monday.
Mark Vientos is nearing a return from the right hamstring strain that has cost him almost three weeks, and manager Carlos Mendoza indicated before Sunday that the third baseman could be activated for the start of a four-game series against the Braves at Citi Field.
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Vientos played Sunday in a minor league rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse and went 1-for-5 as the starting third baseman.
Vientos is 2-for-17 (.118) over four games in his rehab assignment.
“We’ll see if he needs more at-bats because of the timing, but health is going to be the No. 1 question,” Mendoza said before the Mets fell 7-1 to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “If he’s physically ready to go, then the next step, the next phase, will be OK.”
Vientos’ will return to an already crowded infield scene, leaving Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña as candidates for a return to Syracuse.
Acuña, who started at second base Sunday, has served as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner.
Baty and Mauricio can each play third base and second. Once Vientos returns, the Mets might want Mauricio playing every day at Syracuse, as his at-bats figure to be reduced with Vientos’ return.
Mauricio missed all last season rehabbing from multiple knee surgeries.
Baty, Mauricio and Acuña have struggled offensively.
Vientos has dealt with his own offensive struggles — he’s produced a .230/.298/.380 slash line with six homers and 21 RBIs in 53 games this season.
He injured the hamstring running to first base at Dodger Stadium on June 2.
The Mets entered play 61-for-71 (85.9 percent) in stolen base attempts this season, which was the highest rate in MLB.
The Mets were one of eight teams with four players (Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Acuna and Tyrone Taylor) to have at least eight stolen bases this season.
The Mets’ seven-homer barrage Saturday marked the fifth time in franchise history the team hit at least that many homers in a game. All the occurrences have been at Citizens Bank Park.
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