DJ Stewart was back in Flushing on Monday and back in the lineup for the Mets for the first time since July 27 in place of J.D. Martinez, who went on the paternity list ahead of the series opener against the Red Sox.
The Mets are likely to be without Martinez for “at least three days,” manager Carlos Mendoza said — meaning at least this series — before the team’s 4-1 victory over the Red Sox pulled them within a half-game of the Braves in the wild-card chase.
Stewart, who was hitting .172/.326.,298 with the Mets before being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of July, got the call to start in left field on Monday because Mendoza wanted to load up on lefty bats against Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello.
“He’s pretty tough on right-handed hitters,” Mendoza said. “Coming into the series, I knew I was gonna give some of the righties a day. We’re facing — not only today but the guy tomorrow [Kutter Crawford], the last day [Tanner Houck] — when you look at their numbers, you want to have as many left-handed hitters as possible.
“And just part of the rotation with some of the guys. Trying to keep some guys fresh. Yes, knowing that every game’s important. But I felt today was a good day to have DJ in.”
That paid off, with Stewart lacing a fourth-inning single before coming around to score on Luis Torrens’ double — with some help from Tyler O’Neill’s error in left field. After Bello exited the game in the sixth, Stewart — who was 1-for-3 — was lifted for Harrison Bader.
The Mets passed over Stewart when rosters expanded Sunday, bringing up infielder Pablo Reyes instead.
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Stewart hit well in the minors during August, putting up an .879 OPS over 90 plate appearances in Syracuse, which the Mets hope is a sign that his big-league struggles have faded.
