NEW YORK — Edwin Díaz kept stepping off. After the third disengagement, he signaled for an athletic trainer. Moments later, he walked off the mound because of what would later be described as left hip cramping.
So, with one out in the 10th inning, a runner on first base and the Philadelphia Phillies already holding a one-run lead, New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called on Max Kranick. The Phillies loaded the bases against him. But Kranick prevented them from adding any other runs.
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Mendoza wanted to stay away from using Kranick, who had thrown two innings and tried for a third Monday. It was fitting he had to use him. It was fitting Kranick came through.
Just like it was fitting Starling Marte, who didn’t start the game and has struggled adapting to a reduced role in a platoon at designated hitter, hit the walk-off single in the 10th inning.
The Mets beat the Phillies 4-3 on Wednesday, sweeping a three-game series from their division rival because of contributions throughout their roster.
The Mets’ depth is a major reason why they’ve won seven straight games. The Mets wouldn’t be in first place without hot starts from stars Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. But they’ve looked like one of the best teams in baseball during their 18-7 start because of the all-around depth that is supplementing their star power.
“As a team, we’re playing as a unit,” Mendoza said. “You see one through 26 (on the roster), guys are preparing, they’re understanding their roles and they’re ready to go when their name is called.”
.@Starlingmart FTW 🎉 pic.twitter.com/FSwNOApmNY
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 23, 2025
The thing is, the Mets can stretch that roster number beyond 26.
This is what the good baseball teams do. When injuries happen, they pull from their depth, which cushions the blow of the absences. Through nearly a month of action, the Mets have shown that they boast a well-constructed roster.
Reinforcements are on the way.
Before Wednesday’s game, Mendoza said he anticipated second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil (oblique) and catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand) joining the active roster Friday. Both players started the season on the injured list.
Without McNeil and Alvarez, infielders Luisangel Acuña and Brett Baty plus backup catcher Hayden Senger showed that they can be useful major-league players. Baty and Senger started Wednesday’s game. They also starred in Wednesday’s game. Both could be gone before Friday’s game.
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With McNeil returning, Baty stands out as the likely candidate for a demotion. Another possibility is Jose Azocar, but unlike Baty, the veteran outfielder can’t be optioned to the minor leagues and provides coverage in center field, where the Mets are missing Jose Siri (leg). Once McNeil is back, there’s just not enough playing time for Baty, who entered the game with just a .525 OPS, though his at-bats have looked better lately.
Mendoza had already called the decision a difficult one. Then Baty hit a two-run home run Wednesday against Zack Wheeler that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
“It’s something I have to go back and talk to (Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns) now and see what we’re going to do,” Mendoza said. “Again, he’s playing well. So is Acuña. Baty hits a homer, Acuña comes in and hits a single (in the ninth inning) and gets in scoring position. It’s a tough one here.”
Catcher is a far easier call. When Alvarez is back, Senger will presumably get optioned to Triple A. Luis Torrens has played so well in Alvarez’s place that he won’t simply be relegated to a typical backup role; he should still see some starts. But after never appearing in a major-league game before this season, the 28-year-old Senger showed he, too, belonged as a quality defender. Senger made another outstanding play Wednesday, when he quickly secured the ball from Juan Soto’s throw and applied a diving tag at home plate on Nick Castellanos in the eighth inning to preserve a tied score.
Depth is a hallmark of Stearns’ teams, dating back to his time in Milwaukee. He wanted to create an avenue for playing time for young players such as Acuña and Baty, which is a reason why he never signed a veteran infielder in spring training once Nick Madrigal was lost for the season. Stearns also never signed another pitcher to a major-league deal for their starting rotation despite injuries to Sean Manaea (oblique), Frankie Montas (lat) and Paul Blackburn (knee). Instead, the Mets confidently inserted Tylor Megill (5 1/3 innings, no runs Monday) and Griffin Canning (five innings, one run Tuesday) into their rotation. The Mets’ rotation owns baseball’s best ERA (2.29).
Mets trainers noticed that one of Edwin Díaz’s legs was longer than the other yesterday
They fixed the issue, says Díaz: “I was feeling better after” pic.twitter.com/x39O16wIsV
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 23, 2025
Eventually, reliever Dedniel Núñez will be among the Mets’ reinforcements, too. They told him he’d start the year in Triple A, build up his strength after missing most of the second half last season, and then slide into an important bullpen role. But they haven’t needed him. Kranick and Huascar Brazoban, who threw a scoreless inning in relief of starter David Peterson on Wednesday, have been too good to option to the minor leagues. The only other bubble reliever is lefty Danny Young, who can’t be optioned. Of course, on Wednesday, Young picked up two of the game’s biggest outs, striking out Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber to end the seventh inning.
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After Wednesday’s game, Díaz said he underwent strength tests and “everything was fine.” While on the mound, he felt his hip locked up. Oddly, Díaz also said that on Tuesday he noticed one of his legs was longer than the other and the athletic trainers helped him feel better. He didn’t know with certainty if it had anything to do with his cramping. But he said he wasn’t concerned that the issue extends beyond cramping.
But even if Díaz needs time away, who’s to say the Mets wouldn’t be able to get by for at least a short while?
(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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