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Mets’ J.D. Martinez may return to lineup vs. Braves, Chris Sale

mets’-jd-martinez-may-return-to-lineup-vs.-braves,-chris-sale
Mets’ J.D. Martinez may return to lineup vs. Braves, Chris Sale

ATLANTA — J.D. Martinez is a veteran of many important late-season games, but that experience doesn’t carry much weight as a slumping player.

And Martinez is certainly slumping.

He arrived at Truist Park on Tuesday in an 0-for-32 nosedive, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to exclude him from the starting lineup against the Braves.

Slumping J.D. Martinez may get the start for the Mets Wednesday against Chris Sale and the Braves.
Slumping J.D. Martinez may get the start for the Mets Wednesday against Chris Sale and the Braves. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Jesse Winker was in the lineup as the Mets DH and went 0-for-4 in the Mets’ 5-1 loss.

“We’re in a playoff run and I want to be in there obviously, but I just want to win — that is the most important thing,” Martinez said before the game. “We have got our best hand out there right now, the hottest hand and right now I haven’t been hot. The other guys have been hotter.”

Mendoza said there was a possibility Martinez would start Wednesday with lefty Chris Sale as the Braves’ scheduled pitcher.

“I’m working hard and I’m too good a hitter to continue it,” Martinez said. “It’s one of those things where I have just got to keep chipping away and it will turn.”

Martinez entered the day with an abysmal .271 OPS in September.

That included a 1-for-44 at the plate (his lone hit was a single).

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