DJ Stewart is hardly a prototypical leadoff hitter, but an unorthodox look certainly didn’t hurt the Mets on Sunday.
With Brandon Nimmo on the bench — at least at the start — after leaving the previous game with an intercostal irritation, manager Carlos Mendoza went with the slugger Stewart at leadoff for the series finale against the Braves.
Stewart reached base three times (two singles and a walk) in four plate appearances before Nimmo replaced him as a pinch runner in the seventh inning.
Nimmo’s walkoff two-run homer in the ninth against A.J. Minter allowed the Mets to escape with a 4-3 victory at Citi Field.
Stewart batted leadoff early in spring training — before Nimmo began playing in games — but previously hadn’t hit in that spot since his high school days.
“This is a guy that is going to control the strike zone,” Mendoza said before the game. “He gets on base and will do damage. I’m just trying to mix some things up with a lot of the lefties.”
Stewart entered play with a .185/.372/.415 slash line with four homers and 16 RBIs in 65 at-bats this season. Mendoza indicated he also considered Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil for that spot.
Shintaro Fujinami has been sidelined at Triple-A Syracuse with a shoulder ailment.
The right-handed reliever has appeared in nine games this season for Syracuse and pitched to a 14.09 ERA. Fujinami, who arrived over the winter on a one-year contract worth $3.35 million, last pitched on May 3.
Drew Smith is under consideration for a return from the injured list after appearing in his second rehab game Saturday for Syracuse.
The right-hander has spent the last three weeks rehabbing from right shoulder soreness.
“Everything is trending in the right direction,” Mendoza said.
Reed Garrett struck out three in two innings of work.
The right-hander has 35 strikeouts to lead all MLB relievers.
His six games with three or more strikeouts this season are the second-most in the major leagues for a reliever behind Oakland’s Mason Miller (seven).
Max Kranick cleared waivers and was outrighted to Syracuse.
The right-hander was designated for assignment on Monday.
The Mets entered play with a 2.80 ERA at home, which ranked first in the National League and third-best in MLB.
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