Walker welcomes baby girl, returns Friday?
SWalkerT. LOUIS — Neil Walker is a new father. The Mets’ second baseman and his wife welcomed daughter Nora Vail on Tuesday morning at 3:06 a.m. Walker already is feeling the pull between fatherhood and career, with fans questioning how long he will remain on the paternity list.
Walker said he would rejoin the team in New York for Friday’s game, taking his three entitled days on the paternity leave. The Mets have been supportive of their players collectively bargained rights to spend time with their families after the birth of a child.
Still with Mets in a critical series against the Cardinals, the team they are chasing for a wild-card spot, Walker left the door open for an early return.
“I just got a text just to say the baby was born,” Terry Collins said. “The other day he did tell me he would give me a call (Wednesday) morning, to see when they were getting out of the hospital and how it coincides with how everybody is doing.” Walker is the Mets’ hottest bat right now. Over the last 21 games, Walker was hitting .435 with six home runs and 14 RBI.
To replace Walker roster, the Mets recalled T.J. Rivera, who was hitting .355 with three RBI for the Mets before being demoted Friday to make room for Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera to return from the disabled list.
GRAND PLATOON?
Curtis Granderson was out of the lineup against lefty Jaime Garcia. The veteran outfielder has struggled over the last month, hitting just .152 in his last 21 games with 22 strikeouts and six walks. He has struggled all season against lefties, hitting just .221.
“Certainly one of the reasons we got Justin Ruggiano was to play him against left-handed pitching, because he does damage,” Collins said. With (Yoenis Cespedes) back in the lineup and with Jay (Bruce) here, you know, ... we just thought right now, (Granderson) has played so many games, now and then this does help him.
“We’ve got back-to back, a bunch
NEXT GAME
Wednesday at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m., Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73) vs. Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24). TV: SNY of right-handers coming up, so we’ll give him a chance to get his legs back underneath him,” said Collins, insisting that the rest has helped Granderson, who pinch-hit in the eighth and grounded out to first. “We’re seeing better at-bats these last couple games due to the fact his body is getting a little rest.”
LEADING OFF
Jose Reyes has rewarded the Mets for taking a chance on him. He is hitting .316 with nine runs scored, two doubles, one triple and four RBI this month, after going 3-for 4 with 3 runs scored and an RBI Tuesday. Despite having lost a step, he has added the dimension of speed to the lineup. He was the ideal replacement for a struggling Granderson at the top of the lineup.
“This guy creates runs when he gets on base and that’s something we’ve needed,” Collins said. “Has he slowed down half a step? Probably. He’s 35 years old, but he’s still electric on the bases and loves to play, he really brings that energy we need. Especially this time of year when fatigue is starting to be a factor. He’s missed so much this year, he’s still got plenty to offer.”
Reyes “missed so much this year,” because he was serving a 51-game suspension for a domestic violence incident involving his wife last October. The Mets signed him after the Rockies cut him.