Harrison Bader, J.D. Martinez Starting Against Dodgers In Game 4
New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader and designated hitter J.D. Martinez are both starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field. Tyrone Taylor and Jesse Winker will retreat to the bench. Taylor has struggled in the postseason, going 4-for-29 with an RBI, so the Mets will give Bader a shot. Bader is a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI this year against Yamamoto, although he has just one hit in seven at-bats with a strikeout and three runs scored in 10 games (one start) for the Mets in October. Martinez made his first start of the NLCS on Wednesday night and went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts. He has never faced Yamamoto and has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with three RBI, four walks and a run scored in seven games (four starts) this October.
J.D. Martinez Serving As Mets DH In Game 3 On Wednesday
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez will take over DH duties and will hit sixth in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler at Citi Field. The left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker got the nod at DH for the Mets in the first two games of the series and went 2-for-6 with two walks and a run scored. In six postseason games this year (three starts), Martinez has gone 4-for-14 with three RBI, two walks and a run scored. Martinez has only faced Buehler three times in his career and has struck out two of those times. The 37-year-old six-time All-Star hit a career-low .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season with a modest 16 home runs and 69 RBI.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez is likely to be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. In the first two games of the NLCS, the left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker has gotten the nod for the Mets at DH, but Martinez will make his first start of the series on Wednesday after going 4-for-14 (.286) with three RBI, two walks and a run scored in six games (three starts) in this year's postseason. The 37-year-old has faced Buehler just three times before in his career and has struck out twice. The six-time All-Star hit just .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season but did provide 16 homers and 69 RBI.
Jesse Winker Not Starting In Game 2, J.D. Martinez In
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker is not in the starting nine as the Mets look to go up two games in the NLDS on Sunday afternoon. Winker got the nod in the opening game but went 0-for-1 with two walks. Instead, J.D. Martinez will start at DH and bat in the six-hole. Winker is likely sitting because the Phillies are sending out left-hand Cristopher Sanchez, as Winker typically sits against southpaws during the final months of the season. DFS players should expect Winker to return to the starting nine for Game 3 when the Phillies send out Aaron Nola. Martinez is worth a look in DFS this afternoon, as he tallied two hits and three RBI during the Wild Card Series.
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth for the Mets for Game 2 of the wild-card series on Wednesday at American Family Field against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Frankie Montas. The left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker made the start in the Game 1 win on Tuesday at DH for New York. Even though Martinez didn't start in Game 1, he entered as a pinch-hitter later in the game and drove in two with a single in the 8-4 win. The Mets will be hoping that Martinez can turn the page in the playoffs after wrapping up his 14th big league season in October in a rut. The 37-year-old veteran right-handed slugger finished off September with a .109 average (6-for-55) with two doubles, four RBI, seven walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 games played over 63 plate appearances.
J.D. Martinez, Starling Marte Out Against Phillies
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez and outfielder Starling Marte will both start on the bench on Friday for the contest against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola at Citizens Bank Park. Outfielder Jesse Winker will serve as the DH for the Mets and hit fifth, while Tyrone Taylor makes the start in right field and hits seventh against Nola. It's a tough matchup for the entire Mets batting order. Winker is hitting just .182 with a home run and two RBI in 22 career at-bats versus Nola, while Taylor has hit .375 with an RBI, albeit in just eight at-bats in his career against Nola. Martinez could use a day off, as the 37-year-old has struggled so far in September, going 3-for-21 (.143) with four RBI. Marte has also struggled since coming off the injured list back on Aug. 18, going 12-for-56 (.214) with three doubles and four RBI.
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.