Mets Notebook: Starling Marte out of lineup for series finale vs. Pirates

PITTSBURGH — Starling Marte hasn’t been himself. If you’ve watched him in the outfield this season, it’s been pretty clear.

The Mets’ right fielder, who was so crucial to the team’s success last season, is still dealing with some lingering effects of his offseason double groin surgery. Marte has picked up his production at the plate over the last month, hitting .305 (32-105) with 15 runs, a double, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBI over his last 30 games, but he still only has an OPS+ of 83, which is well below his career average of 117.

Marte took it slow in spring training because of the surgery, but few anticipated just how slow he would start the 2023 season. The offensive output over the last month has been a good indication that the 34-year-old will progress to his mean, but his performance in the outfield is somewhat concerning.

The Mets, however, won’t go as far as to say there is any sort of concern. They have protected Marte all season and will continue to do so, but after a few months of speculation, even the team is conceding that he isn’t where he was a season ago because of the injury.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people that have had that and it takes a long time,” manager Buck Showalter said Sunday at PNC Park before the series finale between against the Pittsburgh Pirates. “You have to stay on top of the exercises and rehab even when you’re playing. There are certain things he has to go do.”

Showalter talked with someone who had the same surgery, which reattached tendons that had separated from his legs, to get an idea of what Marte has been dealing with.

“He said it took him almost a full year to feel normal again,” Showalter said. “But [Marte] is working through it.”

Marte received Sunday off and the Mets used Mark Canha in right field. The team has been mixing in designated hitter days for some top bats in order to give them half days off. They haven’t done that with Marte yet this season, though the option for it isn’t off the table. The Mets can use Marte off the bench in Pittsburgh and they like the idea of being able to use his bat and his legs in late-game scenarios.

Despite his diminished sprint speed and burst in the outfield, Marte is still a base-stealing threat. He’s 18-for-21 this season on the basepaths. His 18 swipes are tied for the sixth-most in baseball.

The Mets have options to choose from should they decide to DH him in upcoming games. They can use Canha, Tommy Pham or Jeff McNeil in right field. Overall, the Mets are optimistic about Marte and his ability to “play to his track record,” as Showalter likes to say. This is important, considering he still has two years on his four-year, $78 million contract after 2023.

SHUFFLING THE DECK

The Mets have a strange schedule this week with two Subway Series games bookended by off days. The new schedule called for more days off but two in one week is never typical, though it will help the Mets map out their starting lineup for the week.

Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are scheduled to pitch the two games against the Yankees at Citi Field on Wednesday and Thursday. They’ll both have an extra day of rest with the team receiving Monday off, but the rotation may not be the same by Friday when the St. Louis Cardinals come to town.

Showalter and Jeremy Hefner will meet following the game in Pittsburgh to decide how to map out next weekend’s series and beyond. The Mets will head to Houston for three games against the Astros following the home series against St. Louis.

“We have the potential to do some things,” Showalter said. “So it’s something we’re considering but we’ll see how it goes. I’m not going to give that up yet.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Left-hander Jose Quintana is progressing well as he works his way back from spring bone graft surgery. The Mets still aren’t ready to put a firm timetable on his return, but the team is encouraged by his early results.

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