The Mets’ leadoff spot has almost exclusively belonged to Brandon Nimmo this season when he has been in the lineup, but manager Mickey Callaway is reevaluating the situation.
On Friday, that meant a lineup card that showed Jeff McNeil in the leadoff spot and Nimmo sixth in the order. It marked only Nimmo’s second appearance this season at somewhere other than leadoff. Nimmo dropped to eighth for one game in an attempt to emerge from a slump.
“It’s something we have to be open-minded about,” Callaway said, referring to the leadoff spot. “Players go through ups and downs and if we can strategically use those two spots for those guys to be a better ballclub this day or that day or help one of them out, then we will.”
McNeil, who went 2-for-5 in the Mets’ 10-2 loss to the Brewers Friday night and has a .438 on-base percentage. McNeil has a penchant for swinging early in the count, whereas Nimmo works the pitcher.
“It’s nice to have the pitcher throw seven pitches to the first batter, but it’s more about on-base percentage,” Callaway said. “And McNeil is our highest on-base percentage guy at this point.”
Nimmo went 2-for-4.
Jed Lowrie has begun playing in extended spring training games, according to Callaway, receiving plenty of at-bats.
“He’s getting at-bats,” Callaway said. “He is playing the field and then getting even more at-bats, like eight at-bats a day and progressing nicely at this point.”
Lowrie has spent the past 2½ months rehabbing from a sprained capsule in his left knee.
Corey Oswalt was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to provide the Mets some help in long relief. Luis Guillorme was optioned to Syracuse. The Mets also optioned Jacob Rhame to create roster space for starting pitcher Jacob deGrom.
Jon Matlack and Neil Allen were at Citi Field as Mets alumni. Allen, who pitched for the team from 1979-83, was the centerpiece of the trade that brought Keith Hernandez to the Mets from the Cardinals. Rick Ownbey was also dealt by the Mets.
With Hernandez, the Mets began a rise that culminated in a World Series title in 1986.
“I never got a ring,” Allen said. “I feel like I got a real good first baseman [for the Mets], but I never got a ring. I need to talk to the Wilpons about that.”
Allen recounted that he was stunned to learn from manager Frank Howard that the Mets had acquired the former MVP Hernandez for him.
“[Howard] said, ‘We feel the deal is going to benefit both sides,’ ” Allen said. “I said, ‘I bet you do.’ ”
