McNeil went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's win over the Pirates.
The 32-year-old sparked a game-winning rally in the eighth inning by getting to first base after a third strike wild pitch by Aroldis Chapman, eventually stealing third and coming around to score on a Harrison Bader double. The stolen base was McNeil's first of the season, but he has yet to get going at the plate, slashing just .204/.328/.286 through 15 games with a homer, five RBI and eight runs.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Reaches four more times in win
Rotowire
McNeil went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 16-4 victory over Atlanta.
After going just 2-for-22 to start the campaign, McNeil's now hit safely in his last five contests, going 5-for-13 in that span. While he's shown signs of turning it around at the plate, the 32-year-old McNeil is still batting just .200 with a .647 OPS through 11 games this year. He slashed .270/.333/.378 with 10 homers, 75 runs scored, 55 RBI and 10 steals in 2023.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: On base three times Monday
Rotowire
McNeil went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored in Monday's win over Atlanta.
Getting the start in left field and batting eighth, McNeil kept the line moving and was driven home twice by leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo. McNeil has reached base in five straight games, a modest achievement but a good sign for the 32-year-old after his disappointing 2023. Through nine contests to begin the season, he's batting just .143 (4-for-28), but that comes with a 4:2 BB:K.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Belts homer in win
Rotowire
McNeil went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during the Mets' victory over the Reds on Friday.
McNeil's homer in the eighth inning off Emilio Pagan extended New York's lead to 3-1, and it would end up being the difference in the game as the Mets would win 3-2. The 2022 NL batting champion is slashing just .105/.190/.263 through his first 21 plate appearances this season after a down 2023, and he'll need to string more hits together before he's viewed as a reliable fantasy asset again.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Sits down for Game 2
Rotowire
McNeil isn't in the Mets' lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader versus Detroit.
McNeil will take a seat after going 0-for-3 during the Mets' loss in Game 1, bringing his batting average down to .067 to begin the year. Joey Wendle will start instead at second base while batting ninth.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Sitting out Monday
Rotowire
McNeil is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Tigers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
McNeil went just 1-for-11 at the dish as the Mets were swept by the Brewers over the weekend, so he'll get a breather for this one. Joey Wendle will draw the start at second base and Francisco Alvarez will move up to the cleanup spot.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Batting cleanup in opener
Rotowire
McNeil is starting at second base and batting cleanup in Friday's opener versus the Brewers, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
McNeil is an atypical choice for the cleanup spot given that he's hit more than 10 home runs just one time in six seasons. It's a nice boost for his fantasy outlook if he sticks there, however, as Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso are batting ahead of him and should provide plenty of RBI chances.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Confirmed for spring debut
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McNeil (biceps) is starting at second base and batting cleanup in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Discomfort in his left biceps has kept McNeil out of Grapefruit League action thus far, but he'll make his spring debut Tuesday after playing five frames in a minor-league game over the weekend. The 31-year-old is poised to open the campaign as the Mets' primary second baseman and will get in a few game appearances ahead of the March 28 opener versus Milwaukee.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Set to play Tuesday
Rotowire
McNeil (biceps) will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
McNeil has yet to make his spring training debut while dealing with discomfort in his left biceps. The Mets will have the second baseman play five innings in a minor-league game Sunday, and he will be in the lineup Tuesday. Barring any setbacks, McNeill should be good to go for Opening Day. He slashed .270/.333/.378 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI over 648 plate appearances in 2023.
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Nearing Grapefruit League debut
Rotowire
McNeil (bicep) is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut either in one of the Mets' split-squad games Sunday or in Tuesday's game versus the Cardinals, Anthony Rieber of Newsday reports.
Per Tim Britton of The Athletic, McNeil is slated to play defense only Thursday in a minor-league contest on the backfields of camp, then he'll advance to facing high-velocity pitching in a batting-practice session Friday. McNeil will take off Saturday, but if his left bicep is feeling fine after his workouts Thursday and Friday, he could get the green light to play Sunday versus the Nationals or Marlins. Despite his delayed start to spring training, McNeil is still expected to be ready to handle an everyday role at second base by the time Opening Day arrives.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Will resume hitting Saturday
Rotowire
McNeil (biceps) will begin swinging a bat again Saturday, The New York Post reports.
The 31-year-old is expected to play defense in a minor-league game Friday, per MLB.com, but he won't hit. McNeil has yet to see any Grapefruit League action this spring, as he's been brought along slowly due to a partial ligament tear in his left elbow, and the Mets' caution was justified when he reported bicep soreness in the same arm earlier this week. If McNeil ends up not being ready for Opening Day, the team could turn to a platoon of Joey Wendle and Zack Short at second base.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Nearing return to action
Rotowire
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that McNeil (biceps) is feeling "a lot better" and could return to Grapefruit League games soon, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
McNeil has been battling some left biceps soreness but did not require an MRI, and it sounds like he's almost put the injury in the rearview mirror. The 31-year-old also has a partial UCL tear in the elbow of the same arm, which surely factors into the team taking extra precaution. McNeil is slated to be the club's primary second baseman in 2024.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Won't hit for now
Rotowire
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that McNeil is dealing with left biceps soreness and will be shut down from hitting for a few days, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
McNeil will not undergo an MRI as the injury isn't believed to be serious enough to warrant that, but the infielder will be reassessed by the team Tuesday. He was expected to make his spring training debut in the first week of March, but the Mets are opting for the cautious approach given the biceps soreness is in the same arm that McNeil sustained a partial ligament tear late last season. He slashed .270/.333/.378 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI over 648 plate appearances in 2023.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Spring debut coming next week
Rotowire
McNeil isn't expected to see his first Grapefruit League action until the first week of March, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.
The 31-year-old is managing a partial ligament tear in his left elbow, so the team is easing McNeil into camp. "I already have it mapped out with him. It's part of his progression, build up, volume and all of that," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday. "After going through what he went through this offseason with some of the things he was dealing with, he is healthy, going through full workouts. He's getting plenty of at-bats in live batting practice. He is running the bases. It's more like building the volume up. He'll be up there pretty soon." McNeil is on track to be in the Opening Day lineup at second base, and the elbow issue isn't expected to hamper him at the plate.
An MRI in December confirmed that McNeil is still dealing with a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The good news for the Mets is that the 31-year-old throws right-handed. McNeil missed the final weekend of last season after being diagnosed with the tear, but doctors have cleared him for full activities this spring. Although he's capable of playing the outfield, McNeil is expected to see the bulk of his starts in 2024 at second base.
