Despite his own wishes, Mark Vientos was scratched from the Mets lineup for the second consecutive game.
Nevertheless, Vientos replaced J.D. Martinez as the team’s designated hitter after Martinez was forced to leave the game after getting hit in the left elbow, against the A’s on Tuesday night.
The third baseman had sat out Sunday’s brutal 12-1 loss to the Mariners with left ankle soreness.
Mendoza also predicted Vientos would be in the lineup on Wednesday.
“He’s feeling good,” Mendoza said before the Mets began their nine-game homestand. “He actually wanted to be in the lineup, but after coming out of the lineup on Sunday, we wanted to see him go through his pregame workout. Hopefully, you know, everything is fine, and he’s a player for us off the bench and in the lineup tomorrow. So, good sign there.”
Vientos initially injured his left ankle when he fouled a ball off it against the Angels on Aug. 4.
After sitting out on Sunday, Mendoza labeled Vientos as day to day. With an off day on Monday, Vientos has had over 48 hours worth of rest.
Jose Iglesias got the start at third base and batted eighth in the lineup on Tuesday.
Vientos, 24, has found himself in a more secure, promising role with the Mets this season after being second fiddle to Brett Baty in 2023.
The Mets pushed Baty into the starting role last season, perhaps before he was ready, as he struggled and went back and forth between the minors and majors.
Following the season, third base remained a question still to be answered.
Despite initially losing the third base job to Baty in spring training this year, Vientos seems to be the answer for the Mets.
After he was called up to Queens in May, Vientos’ production skyrocketed and has been consistent since, leaving slim hope for Baty in Syracuse.
Vientos entered play Tuesday with a .270 average and .859 OPS in 70 games — which is a significant jump from his numbers last season when he had a . 211 average and .620 OPS over 65 games.
Vientos struggled in the seven games he played on the recent 10-game road trip.
He was 4-for-28 with one home run and five strikeouts for a .494 OPS while the Mets went 4-6.
