The New York Mets reinstated designated hitter J.D. Martinez from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned outfielder DJ Stewart in a corresponding move. The Mets also claimed outfielder Jose Azocar off waivers from the San Diego Padres and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse while moving pitcher Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. The Mets don't play on Thursday, so Martinez won't be able to return to the starting lineup until Friday's series opener at Citi Field against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. The 37-year-old veteran was hitless in his last two games before going on paternity leave, but he's gone 8-for-26 (.308) with two homers, a double and four RBI in his previous seven games dating back to Aug. 25, so the Mets will be hoping he can pick up where he left off as the team continues their push for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
The New York Mets placed designated hitter J.D. Martinez on the paternity list on Monday and recalled outfielder DJ Stewart from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Martinez is likely to miss the entire series this week at Citi Field against the visiting Boston Red Sox as Martinez welcomes a new addition to his family. Outfielder Jesse Winker will serve as the DH on Monday and bat cleanup, while Stewart mans left field and hits in the eight-hole against Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. Martinez has provided moderate power for fantasy managers this year and has hit .308 (8-for-26) with two homers, a double and four RBI for the Mets in his last seven games dating back to Aug. 25. The 30-year-old Stewart should get some more starts this week if the team is facing right-handed pitching. He's hit just .172 (26-for-151) in 2024 with five homers and 19 RBI.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (elbow) is back at the DH spot and is hitting third for the Mets on Wednesday at Citi Field against the visiting Oakland Athletics and right-hander Joey Estes. Martinez was hit by a 100 mph fastball from A's starter Joe Boyle on his left elbow Tuesday and was forced from the game early, but he avoided a serious injury and is back in the lineup a day later. The 36-year-old got a late start to the season after signing late, but he's still provided 12 home runs and 53 RBI in 319 at-bats in his first year in the Big Apple. However, he's showing signs of fatigue in the second half, batting .237 (18-for-76) with only two home runs, four doubles, 15 RBI, 11 walks and 27 strikeouts in 22 games since the All-Star break. Martinez has homered just once since the start of August.
The New York Mets have announced that designated hitter J.D. Martinez (elbow) exited with a left elbow contusion in Tuesday night's series opener against the visiting Oakland Athletics at Citi Field. In Martinez's first at-bat of the game, Athletics right-hander Joe Boyle plunked him on the elbow with a 100-mph fastball. Mark Vientos (ankle), who had been day-to-day entering the day, replaced Martinez in the third inning. Martinez was able to stay in the contest to run the bases in the second inning, so his departure certainly feels like a precautionary measure. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's tilt against Oakland. The 36-year-old veteran slugger has been slumping lately for the Mets, batting .212 (18-for-85) with two home runs, 15 RBI, and six runs scored in his last 24 games since July 12. Tyrone Taylor is a candidate to join New York's starting nine if Martinez ends up sitting out a day or two.
New York Mets outfielder J.D. Martinez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. This appears to be a regular rest day for the 36-year-old slugger. In his absence, Jesse Winker will bat third and serve as the designated hitter versus right-hander Ryan Feltner. This is a favorable spot for Winker in a hitter-friendly park against a struggling pitcher. Fantasy managers in need of a streaming option should consider Winker for Wednesday's game.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh inning in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Angels. The Mets' lead was brief, as Zach Neto hit a subsequent three-run homer in the bottom of the inning that gave the Angels the lead for good. Martinez is having a solid year for the Mets, slashing .268/.349/.454 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI despite missing most of the first month of the season. Since July 22, the 36-year-old has gone 13-for-41 (.317) with 12 RBI and two home runs -- both of which were grand slams.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez broke out of his funk in Friday night's win over the visiting division-rival Atlanta Braves at Citi Field, picking up three hits and launching a grand slam in the victory. As part of a three-homer, seven-run inning for New York on Friday, Martinez hit a grand slam off Braves right-hander Charlie Morton to right field to give the Mets a 4-2 lead in the third inning. This performance was a much-needed jolt for the 36-year-old veteran slugger, who came into the day batting a frigid .184 (14-for-76) with a lone homer and six RBI in his last 21 games. Over his last seven contests, Martinez has looked better while hitting 9-for-29 (.310). With a .502 expected slugging percentage on Baseball Savant, Martinez remains a buy-low candidate for fantasy managers in need of power numbers.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez is not in Sunday's lineup as the Mets look to complete a three-game sweep against the Colorado Rockies. Martinez has been in the starting nine over the past five games but will cede DH duties to first baseman Pete Alonso on Sunday afternoon. This allows Mark Vientos to shift over to first base. Martinez has been in a bit of a slump since the start of July, with a disappointing .194/.326/.333 line with only one home run and four RBI. The 36-year-old should continue to serve as the primary designated hitter in Queens in the second half of the season. The entire Mets lineup is worth considering in DFS this afternoon as they will face Colorado right-hander German Marquez, who will be making his 2024 season debut.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez will get the day off on Monday against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale. With Martinez starting on the pine, catcher Francisco Alvarez will serve as the DH for the Mets and will bat third, while Luis Torrens will do the catching and hit sixth in the order against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller. Martinez has been great for the Mets in 2024 since joining them a little late after the start of the season. However, he could use a day off after going hitless in his last 13 plate appearances with two walks and four strikeouts in his last three games. Still, the 36-year-old right-handed slugger has been a solid contributor for the Mets and fantasy managers in 224 at-bats this year, slashing .263/.348/.469 with an .817 OPS, 10 home runs and 37 RBI.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (ankle) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals and left-hander Mitchell Parker, serving as the DH and batting third in the order. Martinez missed Tuesday's game due to a sore ankle that was caused by trying new cleats. He said he got three pairs of the correct cleats on Wednesday, which should get him to the All-Star break. The 36-year-old right-handed power hitter should be returned to staring lineups after being scratched on Tuesday. Martinez signed with the Mets late and needed to get his timing down in the minors before making his debut, but he's hit the ground running since joining the Mets and is batting a strong .278/.360/.493 with an .853 OPS, 10 homers and 37 RBI in 209 at-bats.