QUEENS, N.Y. — The Mets are going to be as conservative as possible with the potential wear and tear on Starling Marte’s body during an intensive stretch to start the season that will feature 19 games in 20 games.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said on Saturday that he will try to give the 35-year-old right-fielder three to four days in which he will either be off or perform strictly as the team’s designated hitter, which was where he was slotted in the Mets’ lineup for the middle game of their three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I gave him a heads up [Friday] after the game and this is a conversation that I had with him during spring training… it was an easy conversation with him,” Mendoza said. “Especially with us playing 19 games in 20 days. We’re going to try and take advantage as much as possible now before we can play him in the field [full-time].”
Marte is coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season sparked by the build-up of scar tissue from double-groin surgery underwent two offseasons ago. He also missed time with a neck injury and migraine issues, as well, playing in a total of 86 games.
The DH spot allows Mendoza to keep Marte’s bat in the lineup. He was the only Met to record a hit during Friday’s Opening Day 3-1 loss to the Brewers — a second-inning solo home run — where he has assumed the role of batting fifth.
That option will not be available for long, though. That is why the first-year Mets skipper is trying to utilize it as much as possible for Marte. Veteran slugger JD Martinez, signed last week, is ramping up during an abbreviated spring training in Florida to join the big club within the next few weeks.
“I think it’ll be important to get him to keep his bat in the lineup but keep him fresh,” Mendoza said. “The DH and maybe an off day or two here in this stretch coming up out of the gate, it’ll be important to play that long game.”
