The New York Mets lost Sunday’s game 3-0 against the Philadelphia Phillies, their fourth straight defeat. Not only they dropped the game (and got swept by a direct rival, losing the NL East lead in the process), but they also lost yet another important contributor to injury.
Shortstop Javier Báez, recently acquired at the trade deadline, has to depart the game in the fifth inning with left hip tightness. The injury creates a problem that the Mets didn’t expect to have.
While hitting in the fifth inning, Baez hit a ground ball and instead of running to first, he grimaced and was spinning around, clearly in pain. He went to the dugout to get checked by the team training staff.
The Mets consider Baez day to day because, according to manager Luis Rojas, he responded well to treatment over the course of the game.
“The concern at this point is not as high as what it was when it happened in-game,†Rojas said to MLB.com. “When I saw him not moving out of the box, for me it was concerning. I thought it was an oblique. … He just told me that he felt tightness. It locked up immediately as he was approaching the dugout. … We’re more optimistic now about what it was.â€
An important addition for the Mets
Báez is batting .176 with two home runs in nine games since joining the Mets. Several of those hits, however, have come in big spots.
He has been filling in for injured shortstop for Francisco Lindor. Backups Luis Guillorme and Jose Peraza, usually reliable defensive infielders, are currently out with a left hamstring strain and a fractured right middle finger, respectively.
The Mets will probably use Jonathan Villar at shortstop for the time being, and pulled Wilfredo Tovar from his game at Triple-A Syracuse.
If something were to happen to Villar, the Mets would be in trouble. For now, they hope Baez can return soon.