The loss of Jeff McNeil for at least the remainder of the regular season will lead to decisions for the Mets, both at second base and with a roster spot.
After learning their second baseman had fractured his wrist, the Mets moved Jose Iglesias to second base and played shorthanded Saturday, unable to get a 28th man to Citi Field in time.
The plan, which could change, was for DJ Stewart to be recalled to a team that lacks left-handed hitters.
With Jesse Winker playing right field Saturday, the Mets didn’t have a left-hander available on a bench that included Starling Marte, Tyrone Taylor, Pablo Reyes and Luis Torrens.
Stewart did not play Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse, another sign he would be called up.
At the top of the Syracuse order was Luisangel Acuña, who could eventually be brought into the plans, but probably not immediately.
Iglesias, who has had a field day against left-handed pitchers this season, will get most of the time at second base, but maybe not all of it.
“We use him the same way: He plays a couple of days, two, three days, then he gets a couple of days off,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before Iglesias went 2 for 4 with a double and a well-executed double play in the 4-0 win over the Reds. “He’s had a lot of success with that.”
Reyes, a veteran utility player, could occasionally be seen at second after posting an .840 OPS with 10 homers and 10 steals in 59 games with Syracuse.
Maybe Acuña can at some point, too, but the top prospect and brother of the Braves superstar had a down season with Syracuse, owning a .668 OPS with little power and a .263 batting average in his first 125 games with the club.
Although he made 38 interceptions, he was also sent off 13 times.
Mendoza said the Mets are still in talks about the call-up, but Acuña has at least become an option.
Other potential options with Syracuse include Luke Ritter, a right-hander who had an .880 OPS in his first 121 games.
Francisco Lindor (0 for 3 with a walk and his 100th run scored of the season) extended his career-best streak on base to 35 games, tying David Wright for the third-longest streak in franchise history and the longest in Mets history that spans a season.
His 16-game hitting streak was snapped.
Kodai Senga has started his second training session since injuring his calf.
Senga had not yet finished the session when Mendoza spoke to reporters, but the right-hander was expected to throw 25 pitches again.
Stephanie Diller, the widow of slain NYPD detective Jonathan Diller, threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
So do Adam Fox of the Rangers, Anders Lee of the Islanders and Brett Pesce of the Devils.
— Additional reporting by Joel Sherman
