Mets are planning to keep Lowrie in bench role for now

Jed Lowrie, with just two weeks remaining in the regular season, has yet to make a start for the Mets. As long as the Amazin’s are pushing for the postseason, it sounds like Lowrie will only be used off the bench.

Manager Mickey Callaway was asked on Saturday whether Lowrie will start this year. The skipper’s comments implied that the Mets don’t think the infielder gives them their best shot at snatching a Wild Card spot.

“Right now, we know that he’s an option and he’s going to continue to be,” Callaway

said. “We’re trying to get into the playoffs and we’re going to continue to play the players that we think are going to allow us to do that.”

It doesn’t appear like Lowrie’s injuryridden season is impacting the team’s decision to give him a start. Callaway said Lowrie is physically capable of playing nine full innings for the Mets if that’s what they asked of him. Lowrie did, after all, play nine innings during his rehab games with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Throwing Lowrie in the starting lineup now could disrupt the chemistry the team has developed this late into the season. It’s possible the Mets will refrain from starting Lowrie at the hot corner while they make a last-ditch effort for the postseason. New York entered Saturday three games behind the Cubs, with three teams to beat, for a shot at the one-game playoff.

Lowrie has appeared in just four games as a pinch hitter since being activated from the 60-day injured list on Sept. 7. The 35-year-old has not yet occupied a position in the diamond and, with each passing day, loses the opportunity to do so.

The Mets signed Lowrie to a two-year, $20 million deal in early January as one of their final acquisitions of the offseason. He sustained a left knee capsule sprain in spring training, then suffered multiple setbacks that included an ailing hip injury and a calf strain before he felt ready to join the bigleague team earlier this month.

ON THE MEND

Robert Gsellman (partial lat tear) is limited to long toss as he recovers from the injury that placed him on the IL one month ago. Gsellman recently said he feels great after playing catch from 100200 feet, but he may be running out of time to pitch again this season.

“No timeline, we’re just taking it day by day and continuing to stretch it out,” Callaway said. “Haven’t ruled out him coming back.”

The 26-year-old righthander had posted a 4.66 ERA, 1.366 WHIP, and 60/23 K/BB ratio in 63.2 innings of relief this season with the Mets. At this point, it’s likely Gsellman will return to the bullpen for a fresh start in 2020.

HOMER BOUND

The Mets have hit 115 home runs in 72 games at Citi Field this season to set a new franchise record for homers at home. The previous franchise record for dingers in a single season at home was set in 2016, with 112. The Amazin’s skied 75 homers in 81 home games last season.