Bo Bichette (leg) back in lineup on Thursday

Bichette socked his 12th home run of the season as the Mets’ comeback attempt in the ninth inning fell short. While he’s done well to bring his batting average back to an acceptable level over the last few months – it’s at .262 right now – next to no power has come with it. He has just eight extra-base hits since July 1st in what’s become a lost season.

Bichette had a monstrous game as the Mets erupted for 15 hits in Pittsburgh. The highlight was a bases-clearing three-run double in the fourth. Bichette hasn’t had the season he or Mets fans hoped for when he signed last offseason, and there’s been no sign of a turnaround since the All-Star break. He rode a .380 BABIP to a red-hot June but has posted a below-average wRC+ in every other month.

Bichette’s homer off Joey Cantillo left his bat at 107.5 mph and traveled a projected 422 feet, which was 10 feet past his previous season high. He also hit 106.2 mph on his single. The homer was Bichette’s first since June 24 and 11th on the year.

Bichette didn’t start any of the three games against the Red Sox because of right leg soreness. Barring something unexpected, he should be back in the lineup after the break.

Bichette did appear as a pinch-hitter in Saturday’s contest, though he was lifted or a pinch runner after he drew a walk. Expect him to be available off the bench once again on Sunday afternoon. Zack Short will once again start in his place at second base and bat eighth for the Mets while Bretty Baty covers the hot corner.

Bichette was out of the lineup for a second straight game against the Red Sox because of right leg soreness. He was obviously available to hit, but as soon as he reached, the Mets replaced him with Tyrone Taylor at first base.

The Mets aren’t going to take any chances with the All-Star break looming at the conclusion of the weekend. Virtually every player is dealing with bumps and bruises at this juncture of the season. Bichette has delivered at the dish recently, hitting .309 (38-for-123) with five homers and 19 RBI over his last 30 games. There’s a decent chance he’s back for Sunday’s first-half finale. It’ll be Brett Baty taking over at the hot corner for the second straight contest.

It’s nothing more than a routine night off for the 28-year-old infielder. Brett Baty will slide over and cover the hot corner while Zack Short draws a rare start at second base and will bat ninth for the Mets against Red Sox’ right-hander Sonny Gray on Friday evening in New York — assuming that the Red Sox eventually arrive.

The Mets led the game 5-3 after 1 1/2 innings and also after eight innings. They then crushed Cookie Carrasco for five runs in the top of the ninth, only for the Braves to make a nearly miraculous run in the bottom of the ninth, which featured a grand slam from Drake Baldwin. Bichette’s two-run double in the ninth, which seemed pretty meaningless at the time, was hit 407 feet to center and would have been a grand slam in 11 ballparks. He’s batting .350 with five homers, eight doubles and 22 RBI in his last 29 games.

Bichette started at third, but he moved to second in the eighth after Eric Wagaman hit for Brett Baty. He then moved back to third in the ninth after Ronny Mauricio hit for Wagaman (who didn’t get an official at-bat because A.J. Ewing was caught stealing to end the seventh while he was up). Bichette, who ended up going 0-for-4 in his first game back in his former home, played second for the Jays in the postseason last year, but he’d never before played in a regular-season game. This gives him extra eligibility in some leagues. He might wind up seeing more time there with Marcus Semien sidelined.