Luisangel

Acuna

Baty will undergo additional imaging this weekend to determine the severity of a possible oblique issue that cropped up during Friday’s game against the Marlins. Even a mild strain would likely require a couple weeks to rest and fully recover. The 25-year-old’s absence would likely result in more prominent roles for Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña during the postseason, should New York make it.

Acuña, the NL Rookie of the Month way back in April, has hit .239/.295/.283 in 175 plate appearances for the Mets this season. He’ll likely serve mostly as a defensive replacement at second, though he could start occasionally against lefties.

Acuña was shipped to the minors earlier this month, but he’ll return to New York’s bench as a pinch-running specialist for Sunday’s special matchup at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The addition of Cedric Mullins from the Orioles on Thursday has squeezed Acuña off of the Mets’ big league roster for the time being. The 23-year-old has hit just .239/.295/.283 with zero homers, seven RBI and 12 stolen bases in 175 plate appearances with the Mets this season.

The Mets are known to be interested in Luis Robert Jr., and while early reports indicated that talks centered around Mark Vientos, it now appears that Acuña is also an option. That would certainly be more palatable for the Mets. Acuña has elite speed and has shown the ability to play all around the infield and outfield, but he has struggled to hit at the big league level. The Mets have plenty of other young infielders like Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio, so Acuña seems to be a piece that the Mets would be able to replace more easily than a power bat like Vientos.

This is an interesting move because there doesn’t seem to be an opening for Acuña right now, especially after designating Travis Jankowski for assignment and keeping Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, and Brett Baty all on the active roster. Jeff McNeil could slide to more of a full-time outfield role, but Acuña also played center field in his last two games in the outfield, so maybe the Mets will be moving him out there. Even if he doesn’t play regularly, he will provide defensive versatility and baserunning ability. He was 10-for-65 with no extra-base hits and two walks in his last 36 games before being sent down just two weeks ago. It’s unlikely he’s changed much as a player in that time.

Vientos needs a few additional rehab contests before returning to New York’s lineup. He’s scheduled to play on Tuesday and Wednesday in the minors, which puts him on track to be activated for Thursday’s series finale against Atlanta at Citi Field. It’s notable that Luisangel Acuña has already been optioned to the minors and Ronny Mauricio seems to be the logical move to get him back on the active roster.

Acuña, the NL Rookie of the Month for April, was 10-for-65 with no extra-base hits and two walks in his last 36 games. That’s a .345 OPS. Just 23, he’ll benefit from playing regularly in Triple-A for a spell.

McNeil will get a rare night off with tough opposing southpaw Jesús Luzardo toeing the slab for the Phillies. Luisangel Acuna will start in his place at second base and will bat ninth for the Mets on Sunday evening in Philadelphia.

Mauricio, who is coming off a torn ACL, is now up to four stolen bases while slashing .515/.564/.818 in nine games at Triple-A with three home runs, eight RBI, and a 5/5 K/BB ratio. Since getting to Triple-A, Mauricio has split his time between second base and third base. It seems that the Mets may be positioning Mauricio to take Luisangel Acuna’s spot on the roster. Acuna has hit just .204 in 21 games in May, so the Mets may see if Mauricio can bring a bit more juice.