The Mets haven’t had many at-bats against left-handed starters this season, but also haven’t made the most of their opportunities.
After being shut out by Madison Bumgarner in his six innings of work in Sunday’s 6-1 loss at Citi Field, the Mets have now been held without a run in 18 of the 19 innings against southpaw starters this season, having previously faced Miami’s Adam Conley and Cincinnati’s Brandon Finnegan. Yoenis Cespedes’ pinch-hit three-run home run off of Finnegan on April 26 produced the team’s only runs.
Though Terry Collins believes the sample size is too small to draw any larger conclusions, the Mets manager — who started Eric Campbell, Juan Lagares and Wilmer Flores on Sunday — said he plans on putting his right-handed bench players in the lineup more with no days off until May 16.
Their upcoming 11-game road trip is likely to produce four opposing lefty starters.
“I think when you get in these stretches, we’ve got some left-handed pitching coming up on this road trip ahead and Flores is going to play, Lagares is going to play and it’s important to keep them as sharp as you possibly can,” Collins said. “We’ve got a bunch of lefties coming up and we’ll just have to pick and choose our spots.”
Campbell went 1-for-2 with a walk in his first start of the season, Flores went 1-for-4 at shortstop and Lagares went 2-for-4 with a walk in his first start in right field since 2013. Collins said he also plans to use outfielder Alejandro De Aza on the road trip.
“Certain guys, when they’re in that lineup because it’s a left-handed pitcher, we’ve gotta get some damage out of them,” Collins said.
Collins may be willing to tinker with the lineup, but the manager doesn’t intend on trying out Michael Conforto or Cespedes in right field this season.
“Neither of them have ever played right field and I don’t think at this level, with our expectations, [it makes sense] to try to develop a player at a position he’s never played before at the big league level,” Collins said. “Just put Juan over there, know he’s an outstanding right fielder and go from there.”
Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson did not start and entered as pinch hitters in the eighth inning with two runners on, but both were held without a hit. … David Wright (2-for-4, one walk) returned to the lineup after being held out Saturday and drove in the team’s lone run with a single in the seventh. … Neil Walker (2-for-4) is batting .391 during the first nine games of the Mets’ homestand. … Logan Verrett’s career-high scoreless innings stretch (16 ²/₃) came to an end on a Buster Posey solo homer in the eighth inning.