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Mark Vientos appears to have avoided the worst-case outcome pertaining to his recent abdominal soreness.
The Mets third baseman/DH took swings in the indoor cage on Saturday, after which manager Carlos Mendoza said he expected to have Vientos as a player off the bench.
That opportunity arose for Vientos as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning of the 5-2 victory over the Dodgers at Citi Field.
Vientos, who was scratched from Friday’s lineup for precautionary reasons — there were concerns about an oblique injury — had two plate appearances. He walked and was drilled by a pitch.
“It’s not an oblique in this case, but any time you talk about that area, the fact he is swinging the bat the very next day is a good sign,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza is taking a day-to-day approach with Brandon Nimmo, who was absent from the starting lineup a day after leaving the game with neck stiffness.
Nimmo after the game said there’s been improvement with the neck, but he’s unsure if he will return Sunday.
In need of a left-handed bat, the Mets recalled utilityman Jared Young from Triple-A Syracuse.
José Azocar was designated for assignment. Young started in the DH spot, with Starling Marte in left field.
Edwin Díaz, who worked the final 1 ¹/₃ innings scoreless with three strikeouts, has not allowed a hit to his past 28 batters faced since May 5 in Arizona.
Left-hander Brandon Waddell was recalled from Syracuse to give the Mets bullpen protection a day after Mendoza used all eight of his relievers in the 7-5 loss to the Dodgers in 13 innings.
Génesis Cabrera was designated for assignment as the corresponding roster move.
Mendoza had hoped to avoid using Huascar Brazobán on Friday, but he was the last remaining pitcher as the game headed to the 13th inning.
Mendoza said the right-hander would have continued pitching had the game extended.
The Dodgers got three hits against Brazobán and scored twice and the Mets never answered in the bottom of the frame.
Though Griffin Canning pitched just 2 ²/₃ innings on Friday — he was removed following a lengthy rain delay — Mendoza said the plan is to keep the right-hander in his normal rotation spot.
Canning is next scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the White Sox.
