Logo

Access the Mets beat like never before

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.

Try it free

Expecting to add Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil in the coming days, the Mets encountered another injury scare. 

Mark Vientos is day to day (and will not start Sunday) after leaving Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Cardinals at Citi Field early with what was officially termed as groin discomfort. 

Vientos believes he did not drink enough water, which led to cramping.

Hours after leaving the game, he said he felt fine and was “not concerned at all,” but he did want to see how he felt Sunday morning. 

“As of right now, it’s a low level of concern,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after Vientos was pulled before the fifth inning. 

In the fourth, Brendan Donovan sent a bullet that Vientos leapt for and caught, needing every bit of his 6-foot, 3-inch height. Later in the frame, he ran for a foul ball and felt his groin pull at him. 


  New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II on April 19, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II on April 19, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

His main frustration: He believes he could have prevented what he called a “tweak.” 

“It was something that I can control, which is drinking water and staying hydrated,” said Vientos, who cautioned that the diagnosis (at the time at least) was a self-diagnosis. “But I’m grateful it’s not too bad.” 

If it gets worse, more tests would be needed Sunday.

The Mets would never want to lose Vientos, but especially not when the third baseman is heating up. After a slow start to his season, Vientos had homered in his two previous games and spiked his OPS from .463 to .565. 


  Mark Vientos had homered in two straight games before Saturday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Mark Vientos had homered in two straight games before Saturday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

He was replaced by Brett Baty — who himself has been swinging better — and the third baseman immediately made an impact.

With Thomas Saggese on third base and one out in the fifth, Yohel Pozo grounded to Baty, who fielded and threw a strike to Luis Torrens, who applied a tag of Saggese at home. 

“It’s not an easy [play],” said Mendoza, who has been trying to find time for Baty and Luisangel Acuña. 

Barring an IL stint for Vientos, the Mets are facing an impending roster crunch. McNeil could return from an oblique strain as soon as Monday, and there has been wonder whether Baty or Acuña would be forced back to Triple-A Syracuse (or whether José Azocar would be DFA’d because Baty and Acuña have been playing so well). 


  Brett Baty (right) came in for Vientos on Saturday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Brett Baty (right) came in for Vientos on Saturday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Baty, who had not hit in any of his big league stints and struggled early this season, is 7-for-20 (.350) with a pair of doubles and a triple in his past seven games, elevating his OPS from .259 to .564.

He grounded out and walked Saturday, drawing walks in consecutive games after not walking for his first 14 games. 

He has looked like a major leaguer — as has Acuña, who plays excellent defense all over the infield (and has begun taking reps in center field), has shown positive strides at the plate (including a double Saturday) and continually makes things happen on the basepaths.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy