ST. LOUIS — Jesse Winker began his first recreation of the season in left discipline on Sunday and by the afternoon’s conclusion was receiving an MRI examination.
The veteran outfielder departed Recreation 1 of a doubleheader towards the Cardinals with proper aspect discomfort from making an attempt to throw out a runner on the plate.
Winker obtained an MRI examination on his indirect and was planning Sunday night time for a return to New York for additional testing.
After the Mets had been swept within the doubleheader — dropping 6-5 and 5-4 — supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned the expectation is Winker can be positioned on the injured checklist earlier than Monday’s recreation in Arizona.
The alternative choices for a left-handed bat may embrace Brett Baty, however the infielder has been sidelined since Thursday at Triple-A Syracuse with a sore large proper toe, in keeping with Mendoza.
Even so, Mendoza mentioned Baty has been understanding pregame in current days.
For the nightcap, Brandon Nimmo returned to left discipline — he received a partial relaxation because the DH within the first recreation — and Starling Marte began in proper discipline.
Juan Soto was used because the DH.
Marte was eliminated after 4 innings, as was Mendoza’s plan as a result of the veteran was taking part in within the outfield for the primary time this season.
Mendoza was requested if rust might have affected Winker (the crew’s main DH) from the bodily standpoint of taking part in the outfield for the primary time this season.
“He’s been doing every thing he can to remain prepared, doing all of the defensive work pregame,” Mendoza mentioned.
Winker caught Nolan Gorman’s fly ball to medium left discipline within the third inning and Brendan Donovan beat the throw dwelling.
The inning ended with Nolan Arenado caught in a rundown between third and residential after Luis Torrens threw to second base.
Winker was faraway from the sport earlier than the Cardinals batted within the fourth.
Dedniel Núñez was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier than the second recreation to provide the Mets an eighth reliever.
Sixth starter Blade Tidwell was optioned again to Syracuse.
The precise-hander Núñez was a key piece of the Mets bullpen final season earlier than he was shut down with forearm tightness.
He spent the previous month within the minors ramping up and ready for a possibility with the Mets.
“After I received despatched down it gave me the chance to work on my pitches,” Núñez mentioned by an interpreter. “It additionally gave me time to get into recreation form.”
Surgical procedure has been beneficial for reliever Danny Younger, who was positioned on the injured checklist final week with an elbow sprain.
Younger was transferred to the 60-day IL on Sunday, giving the Mets a further spot on the 40-man roster.
