Jeff McNeil Making His First Start In Game 5 Of NLCS
New York Mets infielder Jeff McNeil will draw into the starting lineup for the first time this postseason in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Friday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Jack Flaherty. McNeil will start at second base and bat eighth. The 32-year-old former batting champion fractured his right wrist in early September and didn't rejoin the team until the start of the NLCS. He saw three pinch-hitting appearances in the first four games of the series but was unable to record a hit. With McNeil jumping into the starting lineup, Jose Iglesias will retreat to the bench for a must-win game for New York. McNeil has only faced Flaherty three times in his career and has a single and a strikeout. He'll be a low-upside DFS play on Friday's slate.
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. McNeil fractured his right wrist in early September and wasn't on the team's roster for the Wild-Card Series or the NL Division Series, but he rejoined the roster for the NLCS against the Dodgers. In the first two games of the series in LA, the 32-year-old former batting champion only saw one pinch-hitting appearance and lined out. He'll start on the bench with the team facing right-hander Walker Buehler, who McNeil has gone 1-for-9 against in his career with a walk and two strikeouts. McNeil didn't look anything like a former batting champion at the plate in 2024 and might just serve as a bench bat for the Mets for the remainder of the postseason.
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil is absent from the team's starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets will stick with Jose Iglesias at second base, and he will hit seventh. Meanwhile, Starling Marte will make another start in right field and will bat fifth against Dodgers right-handed opener Ryan Brasier. McNeil fractured his right wrist in early September and remained on the injured list during the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 32-year-old former batting champion came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the 9-0 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1 and lined out. There's a good chance we'll see McNeil come off the bench at some point as a pinch-hitter again in Game 2. McNeil hit a career-low .238 (101-for-424) with 12 homers, 44 RBI and five steals. The Mets may just use him as a bench bat the rest of the way in 2024.
Jeff McNeil Has "Really Good Chance" To Be On NLCS Roster
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) has a "really good chance" to be on the team's roster for the National League Championship Series, which starts on Sunday against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. McNeil has been out since Sept. 6 due to a fractured right wrist, but he's scheduled to see live at-bats in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday and expects to be ready to go by Sunday. He will play both second base and right field in the AFL. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks with his wrist, McNeil will likely take the roster spot of infield prospect Luisangel Acuna, who has mostly been a defensive replacement in the postseason. Veteran Jose Iglesias continues to play well, so it remains to be seen how Mendoza will deploy McNeil, but both he and Iglesias could fall into something of a platoon at the keystone.
Jeff McNeil To Play In Arizona Fall League This Weekend
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) will play in Arizona Fall League games on Friday and Saturday. Manager Carlos Mendoza said the team wants to see him play in back-to-back games of nine innings before they think about adding him to the postseason roster for the National League Championship Series if they advance past the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series. The 32-year-old veteran and former batting champion has been out since early September due to a fractured right wrist, but facing live pitching is the last box he needs to check before returning. Getting McNeil back for the NLCS would be a nice boost to the Mets, but he wouldn't be guaranteed any starts after struggling in 2024 and missing extended time to end the regular season. He hit just .238 in 2024 and added 12 homers, 44 RBI and five steals in 424 at-bats.
Jeff McNeil Could Get At-Bats In Arizona Fall League
The New York Mets are looking at getting infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) some live at-bats in Arizona Fall League games, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. It would give McNeil real game action before potentially rejoining the Mets' playoff roster if they advance past the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series to play in the Championship Series. The 32-year-old former batting champion has been out since fracturing his right wrist early in September. Facing live pitching is the last box he needs to check before being cleared. If the Mets advance and McNeil is added to the NLCS roster, he'd most likely be a utility bat/fielder off the bench given all the time he's missed of late. McNeil has really regressed in 2024, hitting just .238 with 12 homers and 44 RBI in 129 games played after winning the NL batting title just two years ago.
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) rejoined the team on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park as he continues to rehab a fractured right wrist, and he didn't rule out the possibility that he'd be ready to return if the Mets advance past the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies to play in the National League Championship Series. To this point, McNeil has taken batting practice, fielded grounders and done some running, but he hasn't faced live pitching, which he'll need to do before joining the team's playoff roster. The 32-year-old former batting champion hasn't played since fracturing his wrist in early September and would most likely be just a utility option off the bench for the Mets if they advance to the NLCS. McNeil hit just .238 (101-for-424) on the year with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, five steals and 57 runs scored in 129 games in 2024 after winning the NL batting title just two seasons ago.
Jeff McNeil Set To Ramp Up Activities, Could Return Later In October
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (wrist) is set to join the Mets in Philadelphia and begin to ramp up activities in hopes of returning to the diamond in the NLCS or World Series, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. McNeil was placed on the injured list with a fractured wrist earlier in September and was ruled out of the season. However, the 32-year-old has begun to make progress and could return to the starting lineup if the Mets continue their playoff run. McNeil had a disappointing season, posting a mere .238/.308/.384 line, which is a stark drop compared to the .270 AVG and .326 AVG he held over the previous two campaigns. If McNeil can return, he could see occasional starts in the outfield and at the keystone but will likely serve as a bench bat.
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) will start ramping up his baseball activities soon and an improved X-ray. McNeil's availability for later in October if the Mets advance past the San Diego Padres in the wild-card round this week is questionable. The 32-year-old former National League batting champion is recovering from a fractured right wrist that has kept him out since Sept. 6. McNeil is not the hitter he once was, as evidenced by his .238/.308/.384 slash line with a below-average .692 OPS, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, five stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 424 at-bats. Veteran Jose Iglesias will most likely see most of the starts at second base for the Mets as long as they remain in the postseason. The 34-year-old Cuban has very little power or speed but is hitting a very strong .337 (91-for-270) in 85 games for the Mets in 2024.
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (wrist) is done for the season, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday, due to a fractured wrist. The 32-year-old exited Friday's game early after being hit by a pitch in his wrist. The second baseman will now have to wait until next spring to return to the diamond. As a result, the Mets will likely give Jose Iglesias the majority of starts at the keystone down the stretch. McNeil held a career-worst .238/.308/.384 slash line this season with 12 home runs and five swiped bags this summer. Iglesias is worth picking up in all leagues available as he currently sits with a stellar .312 AVG and should continue to see plenty of at-bats down the stretch, providing an excellent batting average with decent counting stats.
Jeff McNeil
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