Mets third baseman Bo Bichette was absent from the lineup for the second consecutive game on Saturday, continuing to deal with soreness in his right ankle. The injury reportedly stems from taking foul balls off his leg during the team's recent series in Atlanta. "It's a day-to-day thing," interim manager Andy Green said. "He's played through a lot. The guy is a warrior."
Despite the soreness, Bichette was healthy enough to serve as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning during Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Red Sox at Citi Field. He drew a walk to load the bases before being replaced by pinch runner Tyrone Taylor. Green indicated that Bichette's current availability was best suited for a pinch-hitting role. He could also miss Sunday's game as the team prepares for the All-Star break.
Bichette's season has been inconsistent since signing with the Mets in the offseason, though he had shown recent improvement. In the four-game series in Atlanta, he batted 8-for-18 with a double. However, in the three games prior to Saturday's absence, Bichette went 2-for-13. His performance statistics reflect this trend, with his OPS rising from .570 in his first 61 games to .870 in the 33 games leading up to Saturday.
With Bichette sidelined, Brett Baty started at third base for the Mets on Saturday. Baty went 0-for-3 with a walk, snapping his career-long 10-game hitting streak.
In other team news, Marcus Semien is nearing a rehabilitation assignment. Semien has made progress since being sidelined with a left hip-flexor strain on June 25. However, Green noted that the upcoming All-Star break could complicate efforts to find suitable minor league rehab games. Green expressed hesitation about having players like Semien participate in Florida Complex League games due to the inconsistent pitching quality.
Luis Robert Jr., who is recovering from a lumbar spine disc herniation, had a productive rehab game at Double-A Binghamton on Friday and is getting closer to activation, according to Green. Robert has been out since late April.
Pitcher Kodai Senga showed encouraging signs in his scoreless inning of relief during Friday's loss. Green did not rule out using the right-hander in a similar relief capacity again. "It's something he's unaccustomed to," Green said of Senga potentially transitioning to the bullpen. "We'll see how he responds to those types of opportunities."
Green suggested that Senga, with his high-velocity fastball and forkball, "can be a back-end piece" for the bullpen, but the team will monitor his physical response to the role. "We'll learn that in time,'' Green added. "Kodai has a chance to be an elite starter and an elite back-end piece."
The Mets also announced the release of right-hander Alex Carrillo from the major league roster and that right-hander Matt Seelinger was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse.