The injury hits keep coming for the New York Mets.
Designated hitter Jesse Winker exited Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the fourth inning with back tightness. He popped out in his only at-bat.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said postgame, via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, that Winker’s back locked up and that he will return to New York to undergo an MRI.
Mendoza also said it’s possible that Winker lands back on the injured list.
Winker, 31, was playing just his second game since May 4 after spending more than two months on the IL with an oblique strain. In 26 games this season, Winker is slashing .229/.309/.400 with one home run and 10 RBI.
The Mets dropped the first game of their split doubleheader to the Orioles, 3-1.
Starling Marte Recently Landed on the IL
Winker’s return to the lineup coincided with an injury to Starling Marte, who landed on the IL on Tuesday with a bruised right knee.
Winker and Marte are both capable of playing the outfield but have been used primarily in the DH spot this season.
The 36-year-old Marte was batting .270 with four homers and 20 RBI prior to his injury.
“It’s funny how things work,” Mendoza said, via the Associated Press, of losing Marte. “You gain one, you lose one.”
Now the Mets (53-40), who trail the Philadelphia Phillies by one game atop the National League East, face the possibility of losing both.
The Mets will wrap up the season’s first half with a series in Kansas City against the Royals beginning on Friday. The All-Star Game is Tuesday at Truist Park in Atlanta.
How Will the Mets Replace Jesse Winker?
Winker’s injury will leave New York without a true DH in the short term. He was pinch hit for in the fourth inning by Mark Vientos.
Vientos, who missed most of June with a right hamstring strain, has seen his playing time dwindle lately while working through a slump. The breakout star of last year’s playoffs, Vientos, 25, is slashing just .217/.277/.350 with six homers and 21 RBI in 62 games this season.
Should Winker require another long absence, the Mets could look externally for more production at DH. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently mentioned New York as a possibility for White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
Robert, who is hitting .185 with a paltry .583 OPS, is earning $15 million this season and has $20 million club options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The Mets could also dip into the minor leagues for help. Among their potential options is Triple-A outfielder Drew Gilbert, who was acquired at the 2023 trade deadline for future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.
Mets Dealing With Yet Another Injury Concern as All-Star Break Looms