Mets' Jesse Winker: Multiple weeks away from return
Rotowire
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that Winker (oblique) is multiple weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Winker suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain against the Cardinals on May 4 and has done very little in terms of baseball activities since. Prior to being injured, Winker slashed .239/.321/.418 with one home run, 10 RBI, eight runs scored, one stolen base and a 9:20 BB:K across 78 plate appearances.
Winker has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain and is expected to miss the next 6-to-8 weeks, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
This is unfortunate news for Winker, who was officially placed on the 10-day injured list Monday after suffering a side injury during the first game of Sunday's twin bill against the Cardinals. The injury will open up plenty of opportunities for Starling Marte and Brett Baty in the DH slot.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Officially lands on 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Mets placed Winker on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right oblique strain.
Winker suffered the injury Sunday during the first game of a doubleheader in St. Louis. The severity of the strain has now been revealed, but oblique injuries often results in longer than minimum stays on the IL. Starling Marte should soak up extra starts at designated hitter while Winker is out.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Likely headed to IL
Rotowire
Winker (side) is expected to be placed on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker suffered a right side injury in the Mets' Game 1 loss to St. Louis on Sunday, and he will require additional testing back in New York. The outfielder may be dealing with an oblique issue, which typically leads to a stint on the injured list. In his absence, Starling Marte stands to see more usage at designated hitter with the Mets.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Getting checked for oblique strain
Rotowire
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday after the Mets' 6-5 loss to the Cardinals in the first game of a doubleheader that Winker (side) will undergo an MRI, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
Winker walked and delivered an RBI sacrifice fly in his two plate appearances in Game 1 before being pulled from the contest prior to the bottom of the fourth inning due to right side discomfort. Mendoza noted that Winker -- who suffered the injury while throwing to home plate in the bottom of the third inning -- will be sent in for tests as the Mets look to determine whether he suffered an oblique strain. Winker won't be available for the second game of the twin bill Sunday, and his availability for the Mets' three-game series in Arizona that begins Monday also seems to be in doubt.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Leaves with side tightness
Rotowire
Winker was lifted from the first game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Cardinals ahead of the bottom of the fourth inning due to right side discomfort, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker drew a walk in the first inning and hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the third, but it's unclear if he picked up the injury on any of his swings or while he was playing defense in left field. Regardless, Winker will be on the bench for the rest of the matinee, and his availability for the nightcap would seem to be in doubt. Jeff McNeil shifted from second base to left field in the bottom of the fourth upon Winker's removal from the game.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Winker is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks.
Right-hander Corbin Burnes has reverse splits, which helps explain why the left-handed-hitting Winker will begin this one on the bench. Starling Marte is batting fifth as the designated hitter for the Mets.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Crosses plate four times Monday
Rotowire
Winker went 2-for-4 with two walks, four runs scored and an RBI in Monday's rout of the Nationals.
The Mets combined for 21 hits and 19 runs, and Winker was right in the middle of the offensive eruption as the cleanup hitter. The 31-year-old is beginning to climb out of his early-season hole at the plate, and over his last nine games he's batting .276 (8-for-29) with three doubles, a homer, three RBI and seven runs while working on the strong side of a platoon at DH with Starling Marte.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting versus southpaw
Rotowire
Winker is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Nationals on Sunday.
Winker will begin Sunday's game in the dugout while the Nationals send southpaw Mitchell Parker to the mound. Starling Marte will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and bat fifth. Winker has gone 4-for-14 with one walk, two runs scored and a solo homer over his last five games.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Idle vs. lefty
Rotowire
Winker is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Cardinals on Saturday.
With St. Louis sending southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the mound, Winker will begin Saturday's contest on the bench while Starling Marte serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth. Winker has started the season slashing .184/.238/.368 with six RBI across 42 plate appearances.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Not in Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Winker is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker had started two of the last three games against righties, but he'll take a seat Thursday versus right-hander Andre Pallante, who has reverse splits. Starling Marte will be at designated hitter and bat sixth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Bangs out two doubles Wednesday
Rotowire
Winker went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Twins.
The veteran outfielder broke an 0-for-13 skid with the performance. Winker has had a tough beginning to 2025 and missed time over the last week with an illness, but he's capable of heating up quickly if he's healthy. Through 12 games, he's batting .200 (7-for-35) with zero homers, one run and six RBI.
Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
The veteran slugger returned to the lineup Monday after sitting out a few days due to flu-like symptoms, but he's back on the bench Tuesday despite the fact Minnesota is sending a righty (Bailey Ober) to the mound. Winker isn't reported to be dealing with any further issues, and he could just be getting some extra rest after recovering from the ailment. Starling Marte is receiving another turn at designated hitter in his place.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Back in lineup Monday
Rotowire
Winker (illness) will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Monday's game against the Twins.
Winker hadn't been included in the New York lineup for any of the previous five games while recovering from flu-like symptoms. After checking out fine following a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Athletics and then resting in Sunday's 8-0 win in the series finale, Winker has now been given the green light to make his first start in a week. A healthy Winker should continue to occupy the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter, while Starling Marte draws the majority of the starts versus left-handed pitching.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Battling illness
Rotowire
Winker has been on the bench for five straight games while dealing with flu-like symptoms, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.
The 31-year-old was able to pinch hit Saturday, so the Mets don't seem to be contemplating an IL stint for Winker. He's batting .200 (5-for-25) to begin the season and is still looking for his first home run, but he should return to the strong side of a platoon at DH once healthy.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Losing work to Marte
Rotowire
Winker isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.
Saturday will be the fourth straight game Winker has missed following a 5-for-24 start at the plate. All of his reps have been going to Starling Marte, who will work as New York's DH on Saturday while batting fifth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Riding pine vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.
Winker and his career .667 OPS against left-handed pitchers will stay put in the dugout Friday while JP Sears toes the slab for the A's. Starling Marte will fill in as the Mets' designated hitter and bat fourth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting again versus righty
Rotowire
Winker is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Marlins.
This marks Winker's second straight absence from lineup against a right-handed pitcher. Starling Marte reached base three times and drove in two runs Tuesday and will be rewarded with another start at designated hitter in Wednesday's series finale.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 230 lbs
Birthplace: Buffalo, NY
Age: 31
Experience: 8
Bats/Throws: L, L
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