LOS ANGELES — Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith in the same lineup against right-handers could be an intriguing option for the Mets, but can they make it happen?
As it stands, McNeil is on the injured list rehabbing from a strained hamstring, so team officials aren’t staring at an immediate decision.
But for down the road, manager Mickey Callaway was asked Thursday if he could envision McNeil taking balls in center field with Smith playing left.
“I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Callaway said before the Mets’ 2-0 loss to the Dodgers. “Maybe we need to think about that. I think we have shown that we are willing to think outside the box and get our best players on the field, so we won’t ever rule out anything.”
McNeil, an infielder, shifted to left field in spring training and his opportunities to play third base will be limited by Todd Frazier and J.D. Davis. McNeil can play second, but Robinson Cano appears close to a return from the IL — he is eligible to come off Sunday and there are strong indications he will.
Smith, McNeil and Michael Conforto would give the Mets three productive lefty bats in the outfield, but at the expense of defense. Smith struck out pinch-hitting for Davis and stayed in to play left field Thursday.
“We do value defense as well, so to put multiple guys out of position is tough and we think about it at times, but it’s tough to do,” Callaway said. “You are more likely to do it when you are down after six and just trying to get some offense in there. To start them in that position would be tough, but we’ll keep all options open to do anything to win a game.”
Somewhat lost in the carnage of Wednesday’s loss — in which Edwin Diaz surrendered four runs in the ninth inning — was Jeurys Familia’s lackluster outing. The right-hander entered in the eighth and surrendered a homer to Corey Seager. It was the first run allowed by Familia in his past five appearances.
“I think he’s kind of been back and forth,” Callaway said. “When he gets ahead he has success, but I think when he falls behind it’s tough. [Wednesday] the guy hits a homer, whatever, he bounced back and got through the inning, but I actually feel like I’ve seen a better version of him since he has been back [from the IL].”
Familia spent the first two weeks of May on the IL with shoulder discomfort. He has pitched to a 4.32 ERA in nine appearances since his return.
Seth Lugo was expected to meet with Callaway to discuss a next move. Among the possibilities is the right-hander being activated from the injured list Friday, when the Mets play at Arizona. Lugo has missed the past 1 ½ weeks with tendinitis in his shoulder.
