Brett Baty, Hayden Senger sent to Triple-A as the Mets activate Jeff McNeil from the injured list

Both Brett Baty and Hayden Senger became victims of a numbers game. Plus, the Mets are in Washington for a weekend series against the Nationals

Malcom MacGregor

What’s up with the Mets? ⚾

• The Mets were off on Thursday, and open a three-game series with the Nationals on Friday night at Nationals Park

• The Mets built an impressive rotation this season by taking risks and not going after the big free agents (WSJ)

• The bullpen has been fantastic as well and they all feed off of each other’s success (NY Post)

• Steve Gelbs will guest star as himself on the Simpsons this Sunday (SNY)

• The Mets game against the Cubs on May 11 was moved from 11:35 AM to 12:05 PM, and will air exclusively on The Roku Channel

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Roster Moves 📰

• 3B Brett Baty was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

• C Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

• INF Jeff McNeil activated from the injured list

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Injury Updates 🏥

• C Francisco Alvarez (fractured left hand) is expected to be activated off the injured list this weekend

• RHP Edwin Díaz (hip cramp) will be re-evaluated in Washington ahead of the club’s series against the Nationals

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Stat of the Day 📊

Dating back to April 24, 2024, Francisco Lindor (8.9) is ranked third and Juan Soto (7.3) is ranked fifth in MLB in fWAR:

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Down on the Farm 🌾

• RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 1 prospect, Triple-A): 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

• 1B Ryan Clifford (No. 4 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR, K

• LF Eli Serrano III ( No. 23 prospect, High-A): 5-for-6, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR, K

• RHP Matt Allan (Single-A): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR

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Today’s Game 🗓️

Match-up: Mets (18-7) vs. Nationals (11-14)

Where: Nationals Park — Washington, D.C.

Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (3-1, 0.79 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (2-0, 3.68 ERA)

When: 6:45 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

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Brett Baty made the decision hard in the end, but still ended up as a roster casualty… ✍️

New York Post

As soon as Jeff McNeil started his rehab assignment in Single-A St.Lucie, the Mets were on notice that they would soon have some tough decisions to make.

Either Brett Baty or Luisangel Acuña would have to go back to the minor leagues to make room for McNeil.

At the time, the choice seemed academic - Acuña seemed to have the edge since he is more versatile in the infield and brings a different skillset to the team than Baty. His speed and his ability to cause havoc on the basepaths is certainly tantalizing to keep on the major league squad. Overall, he is hitting .283/.356/.733 with zero home runs but six stolen bases. He has caught fire recently hitting .333/.375/.467 with one stolen base but no home runs and zero RBIs.

Unfortunately for Baty, Acuña edged him out when the time came to decide between the two. The timing couldn’t be worse for Baty, who just slugged his first home run of the year off Zack Wheeler on Wednesday and helped the Mets sweep the Phillies in their three-game series earlier this week. He had been playing a lot better recently after getting off to a horrific start, on both sides of the ball. Over his last seven games, Baty hit .333/.429/.611 with one home run and three RBIs.

Again, two weeks ago, this was an easier decision for the Mets to make, and hats off to Baty for making it tough on the team to make that decision. Both Baty and Hayden Senger became victims of a numbers game.

(It probably wasn’t that hard in the end, even if they will have you believe it was.)

Now it will be interesting to see if Baty can turn himself into this year’s Mark Vientos as he returns to Triple-A Syracuse. Can he use the demotion as fuel to force the team to call him back up? If, or when, that happens, he needs to make sure he seizes the opportunity which he has squandered in the past.

If he fails again, there might not be many opportunities left for him in the organization.

Meanwhile, the issue for Acuña now is playing time. Can the Mets afford to keep the 23-year-old on the bench when he could see regular playing time in Syracuse? To them, the answer is yes. It will be up to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza now to find a way to put him in the lineup, whether that is as a late-inning defensive replacement or to get him starts when there is a lefty on the mound. The Mets can also use Acuña in the outfield, and they can move McNeil around the field as well.

After all, one of the things the Mets have always valued McNeil for is his versatility. Maybe he ends up being the odd man out at second for Acuña, who is probably a better there at this point anyway. There are opportunities in center for both McNeil and Acuña in the near and medium-term. McNeil can spell any of Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, or Juan Soto in right field to give them breathers, and McNeil can always get at-bats as a designated hitter as well.

If he hits, of course.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Rangers placed RHP Kumar Rocker on the IL with a right shoulder impingement

• The Pirates called up 27-year-old OF Matt Gorski and he hit a home run in his first major league at bat

• Royals LHP Cole Ragans exited his start early with a groin injury

• The Rays placed OF Jake Mangum on the IL with a left groin strain