Michael Conforto’s early-season slump has led to a drop in the lineup.
The Mets’ right fielder, who had hit in the three-hole in each of the first five games of the season, was set to bat sixth Sunday before the series finale against the Marlins at Citi Field was suspended.
Dominic Smith replaced Conforto in the No. 3 spot — and could remain there until Conforto snaps out of his funk.
“Conforto can use it, just watching a couple lefties in front of him and seeing how they’re approaching those lefties,” manager Luis Rojas said. “They’re not necessarily the same hitter, but he can see the mix that the opposing pitcher has for those lefties in front of him. So I think he can benefit from that. He can track something down.”
Conforto is off to a 3-for-21 start and has been the subject of boos from the home crowd in the early going. His biggest contribution so far came when he leaned into a pitch to walk the Mets off in Thursday’s home opener, but had otherwise struggled with runners on base.
“You’re only one swing away from getting back,” Rojas said. “I know he’s been struggling, but you’re one swing away, one at-bat away, one game away sometimes, to getting hot. We’ve seen him hot, we’ve seen him go cold too. He’ll find his way. Moving him down is some of the things we talked about where he can see more reps before his first at-bat of the game.”
J.D. Davis is “pretty confident” his stay on the injured list for a contused left hand could last only the minimum 10 days. But that is dependent on the swelling in his hand continuing to go down, after he was hit by a pitch on Tuesday, so he can swing without pain.
“I can grip the bat, or at least hold it in a way,” Davis said. “But when actually swinging the bat where it rotates into that bottom, meaty part of the hand where I got hit, that’s where it starts to be a little more discomfort and a pinch. … That’s just all the swelling in there, all the blood. So just a waiting game to get it out and it’ll be fine.”
Davis said his hand feels “fine” when he takes ground balls, which he did Friday and planned to again Sunday before the rain got in the way.
David Peterson will start Monday’s game against the Phillies, followed by Taijuan Walker on normal rest Tuesday. Wednesday’s starter is to be announced — it could be Marcus Stroman if he bounces back from Sunday’s wipeout — before Jacob deGrom throws Thursday.