The Mets will be without third baseman Brett Baty for the final two games of the regular season as he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain on Saturday. Ronny Mauricio was in the starting lineup at third base on Saturday as the Mets look to keep their postseason hopes alive.
The injury occurred during Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Marlins. Baty, who has never previously experienced an oblique injury, first felt something when he swung through a Sandy Alcantara fastball in the first inning. Although adrenaline took away much of the pain as he swung twice more during that at-bat, he experienced discomfort again — worse this time — while throwing out Liam Hicks on a ground ball in the bottom of the inning. He did not return to the field for the second.
Since a slow start to the season, Baty had developed into one of the Mets†best hitters, entering Fridayâ€s play with a .313/.375/.504 slash line since Aug. 2. His season OPS stands at .748. On Thursday night in Chicago, he hit a three-run homer that proved to be the difference in the game.
If Baty misses significant time, Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Luisangel Acuña would all be candidates to replace him — both this weekend and potentially into October. But none have proven nearly as productive as Baty. The Mets also recalled infielder Jared Young from Triple-A Syracuse when Baty was placed on the IL.
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