NEW YORK METS NEWS

Rafael Ortega - Seeing steady playing time Ortega will start in left field and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Cubs.

Impact Ortega has recorded just two hits in 15 at-bats since he was called up from Triple-A Syracuse last Tuesday, but he's picked up starts in the outfield in six of the Mets' ensuing seven games. With Tommy Pham now in Arizona and with Starling Marte (groin) landing on the injured list Monday, Ortega looks like he'll have a fairly clear path to steady playing time despite having yet to offer much production at the dish.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Abraham Almonte - Gets call from Triple-A The Mets selected Almonte's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

Impact While he won't be included in the Mets' lineup Monday against Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly, the switch-hitting Almonte could emerge as a short-side platoon player for the Mets. With Starling Marte (groin) going on the injured list in a corresponding move, the Mets are left with three other outfielders on the active roster (Brandon Nimmo, DJ Stewart and Rafael Ortega) that are all left-handed hitters. Almonte, who last saw action in the big leagues with the Red Sox in 2022, was hitting .228 with 11 home runs over 118 plate appearances at Syracuse prior to his call-up.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mets Reportedly Lose Star Outfielder To Injured List With Unfortunate Groin Injury The New York Mets reportedly lost one of its star outfielders to a groin injury as the club’s string of bad luck continued Monday.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Mets option 3B Brett Baty to Triple A Baty was called up in mid-April and has been New York's everyday third baseman since.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Jonathan Araúz - Recalled from Triple-A Arauz was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

Impact Arauz is starting at second base and batting ninth Monday against the Cubs. This will be the second baseman's third appearance of the year having played most recently in Kansas City on June 3. In his two games, he has gone 1-for-6.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Danny Mendick - Gets start at third Mendick will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Cubs.

Impact With Brett Baty optioned to Triple-A on Monday and Luis Guillorme still on the injured lists, Mendick will find more playing time. The 29-year-old has been great against left handed pitching, slashing .360/.385/.560 in 26 plate appearances. He will face Cubs' left hander Drew Smyly.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starling Marte - Moves to IL with groin strain The Mets placed Marte on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right groin strain, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact Marte returned from the IL on Friday after missing about two weeks while recovering from migraine headaches, but after going 0-for-8 in the first two games of the weekend series with the Orioles before sitting out Sunday's loss, the veteran outfielder now finds himself back on the shelf. The Mets haven't provided a timeline for Marte's return, but given the team's status as a non-contender along with the fact that the 34-year-old underwent offseason surgery to repair separated tendons in both of his groins, he looks like a strong bet to miss more than the minimum 10 days. Marte has provided value on the bases (24 steals in 28 attempts), but he's otherwise endured a rough second season in New York; he's slugged just five home runs and is batting a career-low .248.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brett Baty - Optioned to Triple-A Baty was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact Baty was hitting .075 with a 34 percent strikeout rate over his last 40 at-bats. Jonathan Arauz is getting promoted in a corresponding move, and Daniel Vogelbach could also see more playing time in the short term, as Mark Vientos will presumably play more third base than designated hitter in the coming days.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shohei Ohtani's continued dominance lands him atop Ben Verlander's July team of the month

Ben Verlander's team of the month for July includes Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

AUGUST 7, 2023

Mets' struggling hitter 'under a microscope' might be demoted The New York Mets have shifted their focus to the future, but that doesn't mean everyone will remain in the majors.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • NJ.COM

Francisco Lindor - Swipes 18th bag Lindor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Orioles.

Impact The Mets got shut out, but Lindor still found a way to make a fantasy contribution. The shortstop has been dialed in over the last couple weeks, slashing .346/.424/.596 over the last 14 games with three of his 22 homers and three of his 18 steals on the season as he closes in on his first 20-20 campaign since 2019.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Why did MLB's most expensive team flop? New York Mets 'didn't have that magic' Coming off a 101-win season, the Mets had baseball's highest payroll ever but find themselves with a losing record, battling to stay out of...

AUGUST 7, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

This Week in Mets: Within lost season, an opportunity for younger Mets Brandon Nimmo once parlayed some "meaningless" playing time into a career breakthrough. Which Mets players have a chance to impress?

AUGUST 7, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Mets play the Cubs in first of 3-game series

The New York Mets begin a three-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Monday

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brett Baty's growing struggles presenting Mets with dilemma as they mull demotion Team officials plan to discuss whether Brett Baty would be better served returning to Triple-A Syracuse, for his own good.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • NYPOST.COM

José Quintana - Quality start not enough Quintana (0-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings in a 2-0 loss to the Orioles. He struck out six.

Impact It was another tough-luck loss for Quintana, who put together his third consecutive quality start. In four starts since making his season debut following rib surgery, the 34-year-old Quintana has shown that he's still an effective pitcher with a 3.42 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. However, as long as the Mets continue to flounder, wins are going to be tough to attain for the 13-year vet.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Edwin Uceta - Rehabbing at Single-A Uceta (knee) shifted his rehab assignment to Single-A St. Lucie on Sunday and tossed a perfect inning.

Impact Uceta needed just eight pitches to retire the side Sunday in the second appearance of his rehab assignment, which began in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Wednesday. The right-hander has been on the shelf since late April and later underwent surgery in June to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He'll eventually move his rehab to Triple-A Syracuse and will likely make a few appearances with the Mets' top affiliate before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles get strong outings from unlikely members of the bullpen in 2-0 win over Mets, completing series sweep The Orioles got strong relief outings from Cionel Pérez, Cole Irvin and Shintaro Fujinami to set up Félix Bautista in Sunday's shutout win o...

AUGUST 6, 2023 • BALTIMORESUN.COM

AL-leading Orioles finish off 3-game sweep of Mets with 2-0 victory

Kyle Bradish and four relievers combined on a four-hitter, and the Baltimore Orioles completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with a 2-0 victory

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mark Vientos - Staking claim to everyday role Vientos will start at third base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact Vientos will stick in the starting nine for the fifth time in six games and is slashing .257/.289/.429 in 11 games overall since he was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on July 20. With the 50-60 Mets effectively removing themselves from the National League wild-card race, the 23-year-old Vientos will likely to continue to poach work from the 30-year-old Daniel Vogelbach as the organization prioritizes the development of some of its younger players.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jeff McNeil - Connects on fourth homer McNeil went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Orioles.

Impact McNeil accounted for most of the damage on the day against Orioles starter Kyle Gibson, who allowed only four hits and three earned runs over seven innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. The home run was McNeil's fourth of the season and helped lift his batting average up to .253. With Brandon Nimmo resting in Sunday's series finale, McNeil will start in left field and handle leadoff duties.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Daniel Vogelbach - Moves into reserve role Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact Vogelbach has now hit the bench five times in the last six games, with four of those absences from the lineup coming against right-handed pitching. The 30-year-old appears to have moved into a reserve role while the non-contending Mets look to open up more playing time for rookie Mark Vientos.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starling Marte - Out of Sunday's lineup Marte is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Baltimore.

Impact Marte started the past two games after missing a couple weeks with migraines, and he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale. DJ Stewart will start in right field and bat cleanup.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Alvarez - Receives Sunday off Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact Alvarez started the first two games of the series in Baltimore but will take a seat for the finale after going 0-for-6 with a walk. Omar Narvaez will step in behind the plate to catch for Jose Quintana.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Nimmo - Not in Sunday's lineup Nimmo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact The 30-year-old started the past two contests after sitting out three games with quadriceps tightness, and it appears he'll get a maintenance day for the series finale in Baltimore. Rafael Ortega will receive another start in center field in Nimmo's place.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE