Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave some updates on the team prior to Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians…
Cedric Mullins vs. left-handed pitching
Needing an improvement at center field, New York acquired Mullins from Baltimore at the trade deadline last week. The 30-year-old is having a bit of a down year hitting, however, one thing that stands out about his numbers is his high average against left-handed pitchers.
Mullins is batting .224 on the season, but slashing an impressive .291/.382/.465 with an .847 OPS against lefties.
Mendoza was asked about the center fielder's success against left-handers, and because of that, why he wasn't in Tuesday's starting lineup against Cleveland LHP Logan Allen.
"He's been pretty good against lefties, Mullins, I'm not going to lie," Mendoza said. "And he will play against lefties. I just thought today was a good matchup for TT [Tyrone Taylor]. I'm going to continue to play all of them. I already have three lefties in the lineup: Nimms [Brandon Nimmo], [Juan] Soto, and [Jeff] McNeil. I just thought, looking at these guys' splits, pitch shapes, and all that, I thought today was a good day for TT."
Despite going with Taylor against the lefty on Tuesday, Mendoza made it clear that Mullins will play against LHPs and isn't going to be in a platoon situation going forward.
"No, no. Cedric will play against lefties, too," Mendoza said. "I just thought today was, looking what's ahead and where we're at, I thought it was a good day for TT. But Cedric, he's not going to be in a strict platoon here where if we're facing a lefty he's not going to play; he will play."
In comparison, the right-handed hitting Taylor is batting just .167 against lefties, .210 vs righties, and .199 overall on the season. Mullins, oddly for a lefty, is hitting .200 vs. right-handers, but does have 12 of his 15 home runs against them.
Edwin Diaz's recent dominance
Diaz was named NL Reliever of the Month for July on Monday after recording seven saves over 11.0 innings without allowing an earned run. In fact, he hasn't allowed an earned run at all since June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mendoza praised Diaz for his recent dominance, including Monday's effort, calling it the best stretch he's seen from the closer since becoming manager of the club.
"Yeah it has to be since I've been here," Mendoza said. "Because last year he was pretty good towards the end, but we were pushing him really hard. Like multiple innings and things like that.
"But now, just being able to watch him day in and day out pretty much, his ability to control the situation. We saw it last night — guy gets on, gets to third base with nobody out, and his ability to continue to make pitches. That's what, for me, is pretty impressive."
Diaz's ERA now sits at 1.41 on the season over 44.2 IP with 67 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP. He's 23-for-25 on save opportunities and has allowed only seven earned runs on the season.
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