Vet Bautista likely to play third soon
ATLANTA — Jose Bautista’s power is yet to surface, but the Mets are content with early returns they have received from him since arriving last week.
After Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to the Braves, the veteran slugger is 6-for-15 (.400) with the Mets, who signed him after he was released by Atlanta. With Jay Bruce on the bench after playing both games Monday, Bautista received the start, playing left field, against right-hander Anibal Sanchez. And manager Mickey Callaway is expecting Bautista will play third base soon.
“At this point, great addition, great guy, he brings definitely another presence to our lineup,” said Callaway, who batted Bautista third, a night after he hit cleanup.
“It’s Jose Bautista in the lineup and when you are preparing for that you know he can still do some damage, and that’s not a comfortable at-bat for an opposing pitcher.”
Bautista went 5-for-35 (.143) with two homers and five RBIs in 12 games for the Braves this season. Anthony Swarzak made his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas and pitched one scoreless inning of relief with one hit and two strikeouts. The righthander, who has been out since April 1 with a strained left oblique, is expected to pitch Friday and Sunday for Las Vegas before poten- tially rejoining the Mets.
Todd Frazier (hamstring) remains close to beginning a rehab assignment for Las Vegas, according to Callaway. And the manager says he is encouraged by
Yoenis Cespedes’ recent progress running. Cespedes has been on the disabled list with a hip flexor strain.
P.J. Conlon was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas and Gerson Bautista, who was added as the 26th player for Monday’s doubleheader, remained on the roster — and took the loss when he gave up Johan Camargo’s walk- off homer. Callaway said the Mets would have another reliever joining the team Wednesday to replace
Noah Syndergaard, who was headed to the DL.
Jose Reyes started at third base because Callaway wanted to rest Luis
Guillorme, who played both games of the doubleheader. Reyes went 0-for-4 and is 5-for-37 (.135) in 19 games this month.
Hansel Robles’ three shutout innings in the nightcap of Monday’s doubleheader was the sixth time in his career he pitched at least three innings. In those games, he is 1-0 with a 0.48 ERA.