Since returning from the injured list this weekend for the Subway Series, New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo has provided the struggling squad with a huge boost at the top of the lineup.
In his first game back on Saturday afternoon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Dominic Smith provided the team with most of their damage in the 8-3 series opening win over the New York Yankees.
The trio went a combined 8-for-15 with a double, six runs scored, two walks, and four RBI. Back in the leadoff spot, Nimmo was responsible for three of those hits and two runs scored in his return to the team.
Nimmo followed that up with a pair of hits and a trio of runs batted in during the doubleheader in the Bronx on Sunday.
Nimmo lined an RBI single against Gerritt Cole in the top of the fourth to cut into the Yankees lead. He then helped extended the Mets lead to 9-5 during the six run seventh inning rally with a two run opposite field single off left-hander Lucas Luetge.
“I was really really glad to get on-base. It was great to be able to create some traffic for the guys, and the guys really came through with the big hits. It was a very good surprise,” Nimmo said on his red-hot return to the team.
Overall during the three game weekend series, Nimmo went 5-for-14 with three runs scored and three RBI. His on-base prowess added a much needed presence atop the struggling Mets lineup.
“He did what we expected him to do offensively with him getting on-base. He’s aggressive and he showed it today. He really got us going this afternoon,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said on Nimmo’s return to the leadoff spot.
Nimmo again set the table for the Mets’ first run of the game during Monday night’s series opening 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field.
After Brewers ace Brandon Woodruff held the Mets without a baserunner through the first three innings, Nimmo led off the bottom of the fourth with a little doinker down the left-field line for an opposite field single.
The Mets then turned to some small-ball, as Lindor bunted Nimmo over to third, and Smith lined a sacrifice fly to center to even the game up at one. The Mets went on to put up three more runs against Woodruff in the seventh to take the lead.
After Luis Guillorme led off the eighth with a single, Nimmo worked the count to 3-2, and followed with a single of his own. Lindor then drew a walk to load the bases, but a fly out and double play ball ended the inning. Thankfully that didn’t come back to haunt them, and Edwin Diaz closed it out.
“He’s been such a spark plug for us. It’s awesome to have him setting the tone every day that he’s in there. Having him back has been huge for us for sure,” Pete Alonso said on Nimmo’s return postgame on Monday night.
After adding two more hits Monday night, Nimmo is hitting a scorching hot .385 since returning from the injured list. He is now hitting .333 with a .423 OBP, .863 OPS, and eleven runs scored through just 84 at-bats on the season.
There’s no denying this Mets lineup has looked completely different with Nimmo back in the leadoff spot. Him and the Mets will look to keep the good times rolling with the best pitcher in baseball, Jacob deGrom, on the mound against Brett Anderson on Tuesday night.
