Tyrone Taylor pops go-ahead homer

Taylor provides Chicago with a reliable lefty-mashing backup outfielder heading into the home stretch. He’s been sizzling hot ever since returning from the injured list back in late June, hitting .354 with seven homers in 24 games.

This is a big one. Chicago came into the trade deadline desperately seeking starting pitching help and they’ve seemingly came away with Holmes in addition to veteran Kevin Gausman. They paid a steep price to land the impending free agent as Rojas is one of their better infield prospects. The emergence of Pedro Ramírez as an everyday option at the highest level seems to be what made him expendable. Holmes looked sharp in a pair of recent minor league rehab outings and should step into Chicago’s new-look rotation by mid-August, if not sooner. Taylor feels like a throw-in, but he’s been sizzling-hot at the dish lately and provides the Cubs with a lefty-mashing bench option for the home stretch.

The Mets likely only want Robert Jr. to play in one game of the doubleheader, thanks to his checkered injury history, so they will opt to play him in Game 2 against left-hander Chris Sale. Tyrone Taylor will start in left field and bat seventh.

Taylor’s home run was his ninth of the year. He hit a three-run shot off Connor Thomas, the pitcher the Braves decided to let wear it as he allowed 11 runs in relief. With an .872 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, Taylor could be a trade target for a team needing a right-handed bat.

Benge takes a seat with Tyrone Taylor in left field and fellow rookie A.J. Ewing in the opposite corner. The 23-year-old has hit a bit of a rough patch since the All-Star break, hitting .200 (6-for-30) with one extra-base hit and 10 strikeouts during that eight-game span.

It’s the second time this week that Robert has found himself on the bench as the Mets ease him back into a full-time workload following a lengthy stay on the injured list. A.J. Ewing will slide over and cover center field while Tyrone Taylor starts in left field and will bat seventh for the Mets against Dodgers’ right-hander Emmet Sheehan.

Despite hitting .147/.261/.173 in 27 games in June, the Mets continue to play Baty at second base against right-handed pitching. Ronny Mauricio has made only one start in the last month, so there doesn’t seem to be any threat to Baty’s playing time. We would not be trusting him in fantasy leagues, though. Tyrone Taylor will make his first start against right-handed pitching since coming off the injured list, starting in left field and batting ninth.

Taylor is back after missing a month with a hip flexor strain. He was 7-for-15 with two homers in his four rehab games, so the Mets probably should get him right into the lineup, especially if Juan Soto is going to remain limited to DH duties, and see if he can stay hot for a bit. In the long run, he’ll play mostly against lefties.

Taylor was placed on IL on May 26 and was expected to miss about three weeks, so this is a little later than the original expectation. Once healthy he’ll probably push Eric Wagaman or Zack Short off the MLB roster and go back to a platoon role for the Mets.

Taylor hit the injured list earlier this week and is likely to be out until at least mid-June. The 32-year-old’s absence opens the door for journeyman Eric Wagaman to get some opportunities against left-handed starters.