PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Nimmo’s sore right leg gave the Mets another opportunity to evaluate their jack-of-all-trades in center field Sunday.
Jeff McNeil started in center for the second time this season, as Nimmo was relegated to the bench a day after bruising the leg while sliding into home plate.
Manager Buck Showalter said he is hopeful Nimmo will return to the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins.
McNeil has seen plenty of action this season at the corner outfield spots and second base.
He received his first career start in center earlier this month.
McNeil also shifted to center during another game.
McNeil, who was 0-for-4 in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Phillies, moved over to left field after Rafael Ortega pinch-hit for Tim Locastro in the top of the eighth inning.
“He likes to play it,” Showalter said before game. “Jeff loves anything that enhances his versatility. He can play about anywhere and he likes to do it and he wants to do it. We use that as an excuse to not be good at it, but Jeff looks at it differently.”
Showalter said it’s yet to be determined if McNeil could be an option in center field for an extended stretch should the need arise.
X-rays on Francisco Alvarez’s left middle finger were negative after the rookie catcher was clipped by three foul tips and departed Sunday’s game in the sixth inning.
Omar Narvaez replaced Alvarez behind the plate.
Showalter said Alvarez has a contusion on the finger.
Showalter plans to speak with general manager Billy Eppler on Monday to figure out a plan for Starling Marte.
The veteran outfielder had his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse scrapped over the weekend because of travel issues and Marte feeling under the weather.
The expectation is Marte will work out Tuesday at Citi Field and be evaluated for a possible return to the Mets lineup.
Marte has been rehabbing a right groin strain since Aug. 5.
DJ Stewart entered play 30-for-100 (.300) with 10 homers and 28 RBIs over his previous 28 games.
The outfielder has 11 homers overall — one short of the career high he established with the Orioles in 2021. He was 1-for-3 on Sunday.
Double-A Binghamton’s first game of the Eastern League Championship series was postponed by weather and is scheduled for Monday night.
The Rumble Ponies are facing Erie in the best-of-three series.
Right-hander Blade Tidwell, who is among the organization’s top pitching prospects, is scheduled to start Game 1 for Binghamton.
Peyton Battenfield was optioned to Syracuse to create roster space for left-hander Anthony Kay, who was recalled before the game.