Mets manager Terry Collins mentioned that Mets reserve John Mayberry Jr will start regularly vs left handed pitching due to his success vs southpaws. That will likely affect Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson’s playing time. (Adam Rubin, ESPN)
Mayberry signed with the Mets on Dec. 12 for $1.45 million. He made his first start on Friday vs Braves lefty Eric Stults and did fairly well, hitting a homer off of him in the 4th inning that tied the game at 3 apiece.
In 2014, Mayberry Jr hit .243 with 4 homeruns, 15 RBIs and a .341 on-base percentage in 82 plate appearances vs lefties with the Phillies and the Blue jays combined.
Collins said that Duda would not platoon at first base. But if he was to start Mayberry regularly vs southpaws, he would have to take either Duda or Granderson out of the lineup.
On Sunday the Mets will face another lefty in Alex Wood. Cause Duda sat on Friday, Granderson would probably sit out this time although he has homered against Wood and also walked and been hit by a pitch in 6 appearances against him. Duda meanwhile is 0 for 6 in his career vs Wood.
Mayberry batted No.3 in the lineup which is Duda’s spot and the reason according to Collins is that if Duda were to pinch hit for Mayberry late in the game, he wanted Cuddyer batting next. That way had the Braves bought in a lefty to face Lucas, the right handed Cuddyer would bat next.
Another reason is that Collins bought up Jim Leyland’s method back when he was on his staff in Pittsburgh. Leyland didn’t want the other starters’ spot in the batting order to be disrupted when he switched a regular back in.
