Mets' Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso haven't missed a game yet
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) shakes hands with New York Mets' Pete Alonso after a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game, Sunday, April 17, 2022, in New York. Credit: AP/Jessie Alcheh
PHOENIX — They’re not exactly Cal Ripken Jr., but two weeks into the Mets’ season the team is down to just two players who have started every game: Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, who were in their regular spots hitting third and fourth, respectively, Friday night against the Diamondbacks.
Amid a season-opening stretch of 20 games in 21 days — just one scheduled day off, plus a doubleheader Tuesday — Alonso and Lindor have been the exceptions to manager Buck Showalter’s preference to mix in days off for everyone.
“I feel like we have [provided rest] by DHing them,” Showalter said. “We’ll continue to look for ways. With the off days we have had and have coming, we’re in a pretty good place . . . We’re going to do what it takes to stay there, too.”
Alonso has been the designated hitter four times, tied with J.D. Davis for most on the team. Lindor has done so once.
The Mets have Thursday off before a weekend series against the Phillies.
Walker update
Taijuan Walker (right shoulder bursitis) threw a bullpen session Friday at Chase Field. Showalter said the Mets will wait to see how he feels Saturday before locking in his next step, either a start against the Cardinals or another minor-league rehabilitation appearance.
Pitching plans
Trevor Williams will start for the Mets on Saturday, Showalter said. It will be a bullpen game because the Mets need to fill that one-off spot in the rotation, a product of the Tuesday doubleheader. They'll have everyone except Trevor May available, Showalter said.
Tylor Megill will pitch Sunday against the D-backs, with Max Scherzer receiving the extra day of rest beforer facing the Cardinals on Monday.
“I’d rather give [the additional rest] to both of them,” Showalter said. “It felt like at this stage, with Max’s leg and everything going on, every day we can give him, we’re going to.”
Scherzer opened the season with a sore right hamstring that he since has deemed a non-issue. This arrangement also allows him to face the better team.
Extra bases
Showalter said before Friday night's game that hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes said James McCann looks “close” to breaking out. He hit a 452-foot two-run homer . . . On the taxi squad for this road trip: righthander Adonis Medina and catcher Patrick Mazeika . . . Showalter, the Diamondbacks’ first manager, on returning to Chase Field: “They got [artificial] turf now. I told them they were going to end up there a long time ago."
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
