Jeff McNeil Injury News & Updates

The Mets plan for McNeil (elbow) to see the bulk of his playing time at second base in 2024, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

McNeil started 57 games in the outfield in 2023, but it sounds like that number probably won't be nearly as high in 2024. He missed the final weekend of the season after being diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, and it's not clear how much that might be weighing into the Mets' decision to keep him mostly on the dirt. McNeil was going to be playing every day regardless, but that it will come at second base could impact the playing time of Brett Baty and/or Ronny Mauricio.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Wednesday that McNeil had an encouraging recent checkup on his left elbow, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

McNeil missed the final weekend of the 2023 regular season after being diagnosed with a partial UCL tear, but the expectation remains that he'll be able to avoid surgery and bring a clean bill of health into 2024. The 31-year-old seems to be responding well to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment.

Manager Buck Showalter announced Thursday that McNeil (elbow) has been diagnosed with a partial UCL tear, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday afternoon with what was initially called a left elbow sprain. He is expected to avoid surgery and will try platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment with the goal of being 100 percent recovered by the beginning of spring training next February. The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Mets before the start of the 2023 campaign and went on to slash .270/.333/.378 with 10 homers and 10 steals in 156 games.

The Mets placed McNeil on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left elbow sprain.

McNeil will miss the final four games of the Mets' season, finishing with a .270/.333/.378 batting line, 10 homers, 55 RBI, 10 steals and 75 runs in 648 plate appearances. The 31-year-old is due $10.25 million next year on a contract that runs through 2026.

McNeil is out of the lineup Thursday against the Marlins.

This looks to be a planned day of rest for McNeil as the Mets play out the string on a highly disappointing 2023 campaign. Tim Locastro is playing left field Thursday and DJ Stewart is in right. Ronny Mauricio will cover second base and bat second.

McNeil isn't in the Mets' lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Miami, Anthony DiComo of MLB.comreports.

McNeil will get a breather to close out Wednesday's activities after going 1-for-4 with an RBI during Game 1. Brandon Nimmo, Rafael Ortega and DJ Stewart will start across the Mets' outfield while McNeil sits.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI, two runs scored and a steal in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Phillies.

McNeil wound up a homer shy of a cycle Thursday, as he tallied multiple hits for the third time in his last four games. He's also gone seven straight games without striking out, going 10-for-28 (.357) in that span. McNeil's slash line is now up to .271/.334/.381 through 631 plate appearances this season with 10 homers, 75 runs scored, 54 RBI and a career-high 10 steals.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's win over the Diamondbacks.

Shifting back to second base with rookie Ronny Mauricio (illness) sidelined, McNeil got hold of a Merrill Kelly fastball and lofted it over the right-field fence in the fifth inning. The 31-year-old is up to nine homers on the season, but three of them have come in September -- a month in which McNeil is so far slashing .277/.320/.532 through 51 plate appearances.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's loss against the Diamondbacks.

McNeil got the Mets on the board in the fourth inning with a homer of Zach Davies, his eighth of the year. While it's been a down year for McNeil overall, he's hit well down the stretch, batting .309 (47-for-152) with five homers, four steals and a .806 OPS in 38 games since the start of August. On the season, he's slashing .268/.333/.367 with 67 runs scored and 50 RBI through 588 plate appearances.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Twins.

McNeil singled in his first at-bat before swiping his first bag since Aug. 26 against the Angels. He would then come around to score on a Daniel Vogelbach single as the Mets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. The second baseman registered multiple hits in two of his first three games to open September but has gone just 2-for-15 at the plate since then (spanning four games).

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Atlanta.

Last year's batting champ has returned to form in August, hitting safely in seven straight games and slashing .337/.375/.472 on the month with three homers, two steals, 13 RBI and 15 runs in 22 contests. McNeil continues to mainly play second base, but if the Mets give prospect Ronny Mauricio a look in September, the 31-year-old could shift to a corner outfield spot more frequently.

McNeil went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Friday's win over the Cardinals.

McNeil knocked an RBI single and later belted a three-run homer. Since the start of August, he's gone 21-for-71 (.296) with three long balls and 11 RBI. He's produced five multi-hit games during that span. McNeil improved his season slash line to .259/.331/.348 with 26 extra-base hits and 45 RBI through 503 plate appearances.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over Atlanta.

The 31-year-old has had a difficult season -- one of many on the Mets -- but McNeil appears to be regaining the form that led him to a batting title in 2022. He's slashing .314/.375/.451 so far in August with a double, two homers, five RBI and nine runs through 13 games, numbers right in line with his performance last year.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Orioles.

McNeil accounted for most of the damage on the day against Orioles starter Kyle Gibson, who allowed only four hits and three earned runs over seven innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. The home run was McNeil's fourth of the season and helped lift his batting average up to .253. With Brandon Nimmo resting in Sunday's series finale, McNeil will start in left field and handle leadoff duties.

McNeil went 3-for-5 in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Royals.

McNeil hit leadoff for the second game in a row with Brandon Nimmo (quadriceps) sidelined again. Since the start of July, McNeil is batting just .247 (24-for-97) over 25 contests, slightly lower than his .256 mark for the season. The second baseman has added a paltry .661 OPS with three home runs, 34 RBI, 46 runs scored and five stolen bases across 106 games.

McNeil is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Brewers.

Danny Mendick will play second base and bat ninth versus the Brewers and left-hander Wade Miley as McNeil grabs some pine in the midst of a 1-for-21 rut. Tommy Pham is in left field and hitting fifth for the host Mets.

McNeil (wrist) is starting at second base and batting seventh Sunday against the Phillies.

McNeil was held out of the lineup Saturday due to soreness in his left wrist, but he's back in action Sunday after just one day off. The 31-year-old has a .555 OPS in June and has especially struggled over his past six games, going 2-for-20.

McNeil is not in the Mets' lineup Saturday against Philadelphia due to a sore left wrist, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil reportedly suffered the injury during Friday's contest and it's unknown whether or not he'll be available off the bench Saturday. Luis Guillorme will fill in at second base in the meantime, and McNeil should be considered day-to-day until the Mets offer more information.

McNeil isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil is currently in a 0-for-10 stretch at the plate across his last three games, so he'll take a day off Saturday to regroup. Luis Guillorme will fill in at second base and bat eighth.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 loss against the Pirates.

McNeil provided the Mets' lone run Sunday with a solo shot off Mitch Keller to lead off the fourth inning. It's McNeil's third home run of the year and his first since May 1. The reigning NL batting champ had been struggling at the plate, going 4-for-24 (.167) in his last six games. Overall, McNeil is slashing .274/.351/.354 with 30 runs scored and 18 RBI through 269 plate appearances on the season.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with one double and one run scored in Friday's loss to the Pirates.

McNeil doubled in his first at-bat of the game, and with it recorded just his second extra-base hit since April 27th. McNeil had been dealing with a groin injury for the past two weeks, but seems to be fully healthy once again. The reigning National League batting champion has fallen off a bit from last season, sporting a .278 batting average go to with a .354 on-base percentage.

McNeil (groin) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies.

McNeil was held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Rockies due to mild groin tightness, but he's ready to rock following Monday's team off day. The 31-year-old will start at second base and bat seventh versus the Phillies and left-hander Ranger Suarez.

McNeil (groin) said he expects to return to the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil was on the bench for Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Rockies while he tended to a tight groin, but he felt well enough to enter the contest as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and singled in his lone at-bat before coming around to score. With a team off day Monday, McNeil looks like he'll be ready to return to a starting role Tuesday, presumably either at second base or in the corner outfield.

Mets manager Buck Showalter said McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies due to groin tightness, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil picked up the injury at some point during the Mets' 10-7 loss Saturday, when he went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs while playing all eight innings in the field. Eduardo Escobar will step in at second base Sunday in place of McNeil, who will get at least two full days of rest before the Mets return to action Tuesday versus the Phillies following Monday's team off day.

McNeil is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Rockies.

McNeil will get his first game off of the 2023 season after appearing in the first 53 contests. Eduardo Escobar will give McNeil a day of rest while playing second base and hitting ninth against Austin Gomber and Colorado.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored in Thursday's 10-1 win over the Cubs.

McNeil has collected five multi-hit efforts over his last 10 games, though he had gone hitless in the last two contests. The second baseman also picked up his third steal of the season in the fifth inning before scoring on an error. He's batting a reliable .291, but he's added a modest .738 OPS with two home runs, 16 RBI and 22 runs scored through 51 games. He remains a reliable contact hitter with little pop.

McNeil is not in the Mets' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

The Mets don't have a single left-handed hitter (not including switch-hitters) in Wednesday's lineup against southpaw Josh Fleming. Eduardo Escobar is playing second base and batting second.

McNeil has been moved to the seventh spot in the Mets' lineup for Monday's game versus the Nationals.

The Mets are facing a lefty, but McNeil usually bats fifth or sixth even against southpaws. McNeil is sporting just a .487 OPS so far in May.

McNeil will sit Saturday against the Rockies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil's off day comes against lefty Austin Gomber, but as it's his first time out of the lineup all season, there's seemingly no reason to fear that he's slipping into a platoon role. Eduardo Escobar will take over at second base.

McNeil went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-0 loss to Atlanta.

The game was called after five innings due to rain, preventing McNeil from adding to his line. The 31-year-old has been on a tear, batting .405 (17-for-42) over the last 12 games and boosting his slash line on the season to .298/.416/.415 with one homer, two steals, nine RBI and 11 runs in 113 plate appearances.

McNeil went 3-for-3 with one homer, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Thursday's victory over the Giants.

McNeil clobbered his first homer of the season in one of the best games he's had this year. His solo shot in the sixth inning extended New York's lead to 6-4, which he then promptly followed up with an RBI single in the seventh. While it's still early on, the California native currently has a .412 OBP, which would be a career-high mark if he can keep it at that level throughout the season.

NcNeil went 0-for-1 with three walks and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Padres.

Blake Snell and Brent Honeywell issued seven free passes in 6.2 innings between them, and McNeil was more than happy to take advantage. The steal was the first of the season for the 31-year-old, but McNeil hasn't really caught fire at the plate yet, slashing .250/.389/.341 through 13 games with four doubles, three runs and five RBI.

McNeil went 3-for-3 in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers.

All three hits were singles, and the rest of the Mets' lineup managed only five other knocks in a 9-0 loss. McNeil is batting .292 (7-for-24) through six games to begin the season, but he has only one double, one run and two RBI to show for it as the New York offense as a whole tries to find its way out of an early funk.

McNeil has gone just 1-for-8 in three games for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

McNeil has struggled so far in the WBC, and also was off to a slow start in the Grapefruit League with a .235/.263/.235 slash with zero extra-base hits in Florida. The hits aren't falling yet for the 30-year-old infielder, but after leading all of baseball with a .326 average and a career mark of .307, it's hard to believe McNeil won't be a contributor in the average category again in 2023.

McNeil signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Mets on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After slashing .326/.382/.454 across 589 plate appearances last season, the reigning NL batting champion earned himself a nice raise from his $3 million salary in 2022. The deal reportedly includes a fifth-year club option which could bump the deal up to $63.75 million.

McNeil isn't starting Wednesday against Washington.

McNeil has strengthened his case for the National League batting title recently, slashing .465/.500/.651 with two home runs, two doubles, nine runs, four RBI and three walks over the last 10 games. However, he'll get a breather for Wednesday's regular-season finale while Luis Guillorme starts at the keystone and bats sixth.

McNeil went 3-for-8 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Nationals.

The Mets launched back-to-back-to-back homers to lead off the nightcap, with McNeil following Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor in that train. The 30-year-old utility player is on the verge of winning his first career batting title, as McNeil leads the NL with a .326 batting average -- well ahead of the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman at .322 with only one day left on the calendar.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with a solo home run during Sunday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta.

McNeil connected on a solo shot off Atlanta starter Charlie Morton in the third inning while adding singles in the first and seventh to collect multiple hits for the fifth straight game. The 30-year-old is batting 11-for-21 during the stretch to boost his average from .317 to .326 -- just one point behind MLB-leader Freddie Freeman. McNeil is slashing .326/.381/.448 with eight home runs, 71 runs and 61 RBI in 145 contests.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI during Friday's 9-2 victory over Oakland.

McNeil singled and scored in the second and fifth innings before plating New York's final run with a double in the seventh. The utility man snapped a two-game hitless stretch with his ninth multi-hit effort of September and is slashing .317/.374/.440 with seven home runs, 66 runs and 59 RBI in 138 games on the season.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base in a 9-3 win Sunday in Miami.

McNeil singled, stole second and scored in the second and drove in a run in the third with another single. It was his fourth stolen base in as many attempts this year. In his last 19 contests, he has put nearly every ball in play, walking four times and striking out three times in 78 plate appearances. He continues to get on base regularly and is hitting .390/.417/.558 since July 30.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in a 10-0 win over the Pirates during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

After picking up an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the matinee, McNeil was one of six different Mets to record multiple hits in the nightcap, chipping in his third steal of the year as well. Over his last 30 games, McNeil is slashing a blistering .361/.390/.500, but the hits haven't turned into a lot of production as he's compiled just one homer, one steal, 11 RBI and 13 runs over that stretch.

McNeil went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Nationals.

With a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning, McNeil tallied his 50th RBI of the campaign, as he now has 107 combined runs and RBI. The total is the second baseman's highest since his breakout campaign in 2019. Additionally, his two hits on the day add to a 20-game stretch in which he has hit .367 with eight extra-base hits.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Friday's 7-3 win over the Nationals.

The 30-year-old continues to punish the baseball. McNeil has racked up three or more hits five times in his last 18 games, and he's slashing .380/.397/.493 over that stretch with eight doubles, three RBI and eight runs scored. The lack of counting-stat production isn't ideal, but McNeil's .319 batting average would be a career high for a full season if he can maintain it over the final weeks.

McNeil went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Monday's 13-1 loss to Atlanta.

He was the only Mets hitter to have much success against Spencer Strider and the Atlanta bullpen, and McNeil accounted for over half of New York's seven hits on the night. The 30-year-old is locked in at the plate right now, producing eight multi-hit efforts over his last 16 games and slashing a dazzling .458/.484/.780 over that stretch with 10 doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and 11 runs.

McNeil (hand) is starting Saturday against the Phillies.

McNeil exited Friday's matchup due to a cut on his hand, but he felt better than expected Saturday and will start at the keystone and bat eighth. Over his last five games, he's gone 5-for-15 with a homer, two doubles, four RBI and three runs.

McNeil's early exit from Friday's game against the Phillies was due to a cut on his hand, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil left the game after colliding with Rhys Hoskins at first base while trying to run out a grounder, but he's seemingly avoided a serious injury. While he could still wind up sitting for at least a few days, the issue doesn't appear to be a long-term concern. The cut is on McNeil's right thumb, per Tim Healey of Newsday.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in the win over the Reds on Tuesday.

McNeil took Mike Minor deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning before ripping an RBI single off him the sixth frame. The homer was his seventh of the year and second in the last five games. McNeil has now secured at least one hit in 12 games in a row, batting .429 with three home runs, eight RBI and nine runs over that stretch.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with three doubles and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

The 30-year-old has caught fire over the last week. McNeil has hit safely in six straight games with four multi-hit performances, batting .462 (12-for-26) over that stretch with five doubles, a homer, three RBI and four runs. He's typically been hitting in the bottom half of the order this season, somewhat limiting his fantasy upside, but McNeil is capable of staying hot for a prolonged period and pushing his .302/.361/.430 slash line on the season even higher.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in a 4-0 victory versus Miami on Saturday.

McNeil put the Mets on the board with his solo shot to right field in the third inning. The long ball was his first since June 16 -- a span of 26 games. McNeil went deep 23 times in 2019 (his first full big-league campaign) but has since hit only 16 homers over 259 contests across the past three seasons.

McNeil isn't starting Saturday's game against the Padres.

McNeil is getting a chance to reset after he went 0-for-10 with a run and a walk over the last three games. Luis Guillorme will take over at the keystone and bat seventh.

McNeil (personal) was reinstated from the paternity list Thursday and will start in left field and bat fifth in his return to the lineup for the Mets' series finale with the Cubs.

McNeil rejoined the Mets in Chicago after he missed the entire three-game series in Atlanta while observing the birth of his child. Though he'll be filling in for a resting Mark Canha in Thursday's contest, McNeil is expected to see most of his opportunities in second base moving forward, especially with Starling Marte (groin) back in the lineup in right field following a four-game absence.

McNeil will be activated from the paternity list ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Cubs, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil will return to the lineup after missing three contests to be at the birth of his son. Since the beginning of July, the 30-year-old has struggled to a .219 average with two doubles, two RBI and five runs, but he'll look to turn that around in the Mets' final series ahead of the All-Star break next week as they take on the Cubs in a four-game set.

McNeil was placed on the paternity list Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

As expected, McNeil will be away from the team for up to a few days while spending time with his family. Travis Jankowski (hand) was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday and will replace McNeil on the active roster.

McNeil is expected to be placed on the paternity list prior to Monday's game in Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets have infielder Kramer Robertson up from Triple-A Syracuse as a member of the taxi squad, so he'll presumably be added to the roster Monday in a corresponding move if McNeil is deactivated. Assuming McNeil takes the maximum three days away from the team while on paternity leave, he would be in line to rejoin the Mets for their four-game series in Chicago that begins Thursday. McNeil's upcoming absence should open up more opportunities for Luis Guillorme at second base.

McNeil isn't starting Saturday's game against the Marlins.

McNeil is expected to land on the paternity list soon, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench for Saturday's matchup. Luis Guillorme is starting at the keystone and batting eighth.

McNeil is expected to land on the paternity list soon, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

McNeil's wife is due to give birth soon, so McNeil is due to miss a small handful of games. It's unclear exactly when that will happen, however. McNeil is in the lineup Friday against the Marlins, but it's possible he misses the rest of the weekend series.

McNeil isn't starting Saturday's game against the Rangers.

McNeil started in the last three matchups and went 1-for-9 with a run, a walk and five strikeouts during that time. J.D. Davis is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth Saturday.

McNeil (hamstring) will bat eighth and play second base Tuesday against the Astros.

McNeil hasn't played in over a week due to right hamstring tightness, but he managed to avoid a trip to the injured list. He'll carry an eight-game hitting streak from prior to the injury into Tuesday's contest.

McNeil (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil continues to manage right hamstring tightness and is on the bench for the fifth consecutive game. The Mets have a scheduled off day Monday before Tuesday's series opener versus the Astros, and that extra day of rest could be the 30-year-old's final chance to show he's healthy before moving to the injured list. J.D. Davis will bat sixth as the designated hitter Sunday.

McNeil (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil will sit for the fourth straight game as he continues to manage right hamstring tightness. Given how much time time he's already missed, a move to the injured list appears more likely with each passing day.

McNeil (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil was expected to have a shot at returning Friday, but he will miss his third consecutive game. Dom Smith will start again at designated hitter and bat eighth in the series opener. McNeil remains day-to-day with a chance to return as soon as Saturday's contest.

McNeil (hamstring) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

McNeil left Monday's game against the Marlins due to right hamstring tightness and will be held out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench Wednesday, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him held off the field ahead of Thursday's scheduled day off. Pete Alonso will serve as the designated hitter while Dominic Smith starts at first base.

McNeil (hamstring) will sit Tuesday against the Astros.

McNeil exited Monday's game against the Marlins with right hamstring tightness and will be on the bench for at least one game. He's considered merely day-to-day, but the Mets have an off day Thursday, so it wouldn't be a surprised if he remains on the bench Wednesday in order to rest for three full days. Luis Guillorme starts at second base in his absence.

McNeil's hamstring injury is merely considered a day-to-day issue for now, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil exited Monday's game against Miami with right hamstring tightness, but it appears as though he's avoided a more serious issue. It's possible the injury turns out to be worse than originally expected after further tests, in which case J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith could see their roles expand.

McNeil was removed from Monday's game against the Marlins due to right hamstring tightness, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil went 1-for-2 with a double and a run to begin Monday's game, but he was replaced defensively in the top of the fifth inning. The severity of the issue isn't yet clear. If McNeil misses additional time, J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith are candidates for increased playing time.

McNeil went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Marlins.

It's the first time since April 17 that McNeil has drawn multiple free passes in a contest, and he also extended his current hitting streak to seven games. The 30-year-old remains a fixture in the Mets' lineup as he bounces between second base and left field, with the latter being Sunday's assignment, and he's slashing a stellar .353/.431/.471 through 15 games in June with three doubles, a homer, six runs and seven RBI.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's 10-2 loss to the Brewers.

McNeil tagged Brewers starter Corbin Burnes for a solo shot in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth, but that was the extent of the Mets' run production. It's been a solid June for McNeil, who is 14-for-40 (.350) in 11 games this month. The versatile 30-year-old is up to a .324/.375/.460 slash line with four homers, 31 RBI, 29 runs scored, two stolen bases and 15 doubles through 60 contests in 2022.

McNeil is not in the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil is hitting .313 with one home run over his last 10 games. With lefty Julio Urias on the hill for the Dodgers, J.D. Davis draws the start at designated hitter.

McNeil isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with two runs in Tuesday's blowout win over the Nationals, but he'll get a breather in the series finale. J.D. Davis is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth.

McNeil (leg) is starting Monday against the Nationals.

McNeil wasn't in Sunday's lineup against the Phillies due to "wear and tear" with his legs, but he tested things out during pregame warmups Monday and is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth. The 30-year-old went 5-for-13 with a home run, a double, three runs, three RBI, two walks and a strikeout over the last five games.

Mets manager Buck Showalter said McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies due to "wear and tear" with his legs, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The skipper characterized McNeil's absence from the starting nine as "preventative," so the 30-year-old may still be available off the bench Sunday. Luis Guillorme will pick up the start at second base in place of McNeil and will handle leadoff duties with normal table setter Brandon Nimmo (wrist) also getting Sunday off.

McNeil went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in an 8-2 victory over the Phillies on Saturday.

The Mets were down by one run entering the bottom of the fourth inning, but McNeil turned things around on one swing with a three-run shot to right field. The long ball was his third of the campaign and second in his past five games. McNeil has been hot over that stretch, going 7-for-16 with the pair of homers, five RBI, six runs and a stolen base.

McNeil (knee) is starting Friday against the Phillies.

McNeil sustained a left knee contusion Wednesday against the Giants, but he'll start at second base and bat seventh following Thursday's scheduled off day. The 30-year-old has hit .364 with a homer, four doubles, five RBI, two RBI and a stolen base over the last six games.

McNeil was removed from Wednesday's game against the Giants due to a left knee contusion, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil made a sliding catch in left field in the bottom of the third inning Wednesday but was shaken up since he crashed into the side wall. He was initially able to remain in the game but was replaced by a pinch hitter in the top of the fourth. The 30-year-old went 0-for-1 prior to his departure and will have at least one day to recover since the Mets have a scheduled day off Thursday. If McNeil is forced to miss any additional time, Luis Guillorme should see an uptick in at-bats at second base.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs in Tuesday's 13-12 loss to the Giants.

Coming off a 2021 campaign in which he hit a disappointing .251, McNeil's contact-heavy approach is bearing more fruit in 2022. Wednesday marked his second multi-hit performance of the series and his 17th of the season. McNeil's 23-homer campaign in 2019 continues to look like a major outlier, but with the exception of 2021, the 30-year-old has shown that he's one of the more bankable contributors in the batting-average category throughout his career.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk, three total runs and a stolen base in a 13-3 victory versus the Giants on Monday.

McNeil notched his first hit of the contest in the sixth inning, singling to lead off the frame and swiping a bag before coming around to score. He added a pair of RBI in the eighth with a 408-foot shot to right field. That was just his second long ball of the season, with his previous homer coming in the second game of the season against Washington.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with three RBI in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Cardinals.

He brought home one run with a fielder's choice in the first inning before driving in two more with a single in the fifth. McNeil has a six-game RBI streak going, and over his last 10 contests he's batting .289 (11-for-38) with 11 RBI.

McNeil went 3-for-8 with a double, a run scored and two RBI across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader split with the Cardinals.

The 30-year-old drove in runs in both ends of the twin bill, smacking an RBI double in the third inning of the matinee before adding a game-tying single in the eighth inning of the nightcap before St. Louis salvaged a split by scoring in the ninth. McNeil extended his RBI streak to four games in the process, but while he's slashing a solid .293/.344/.362 through 16 contests in May, that come with zero homers or steals, six runs and seven RBI.

McNeil went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Thursday's win over the Phillies.

He kept the line moving all night, including during the Mets' incredible seven-run rally in the top of the ninth inning when McNeil singled and then scored on a J.D. Davis pinch-hit double. Over his last 12 games, McNeil is slashing a sizzling .436/.476/.615 with three walks, five doubles, a triple, four RBI and seven runs.

McNeil went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Phillies.

Hitting third and getting the start in left field, McNeil continued a recent tear that has seen him pile up five multi-hit performances over the last seven games. The 30-year-old's hot streak has pushed his batting average up to .361 (26-for-72) on the season with one homer, one steal, 10 RBI and 13 runs through 21 contests.

McNeil went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Friday's 3-0 win over the Phillies.

McNeil's two-run single in the fifth inning proved to be the only offense the Mets needed as the pitching staff combined to no-hit Philadelphia. The 30-year-old has delivered mulit-hit performances in four straight starts, going 8-for-14 during that stretch. He's now slashing .344/.400/.500 with nine RBI this season.

McNeil is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Cardinals, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

After producing four hits in the first two games of the series, McNeil will take a seat Wednesday. The 30-year-old has put together a nice five-game hitting streak and has at least two hits in three straight. He'll be replaced in the lineup by Luis Guillorme who will start at second base and bat eighth in the contest.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Monday's win over the Cardinals.

Getting the start at second base and hitting eighth, McNeil crossed the plate with the go-ahead run as part of the Mets' rally in the top of the ninth. The 30-year-old appears to have put his shaky 2021 performance behind him, slashing .316/.381/.474 through 16 games with one homer, one steal, seven RBI and 10 runs.

McNeil is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Arizona, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil started the past three games and will head to the bench with lefty Madison Bumgarner on the mound for the Diamondbacks. The 30-year-old started against a southpaw Opening Day but hasn't been in the lineup versus a lefty since, though Sunday is only the fourth time all season the Mets have faced a left-handed starter.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus San Francisco, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil went 1-for-9 with a double, two RBI and a run in Tuesday's doubleheader and will take a seat with left-hander Carlos Rodon on the mound for the Giants. He started the past five games in left field, but he should see more action back at second base moving forward with Mark Canha (illness) returning from the COVID-19 injured list.

McNeil went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in a 5-0 win Sunday over the Diamondbacks.

McNeil walked and stole second in the first and added another walk in the fifth. It was the third consecutive game that he hit leadoff, played left field and reached base safely twice. To start the season, the 30-year-old looks more like the player that hit .319/.383/.501 from 2018 to 2020 than the guy that hit .251/.319/.360 in 2021.

McNeil isn't starting Monday's game against the Phillies, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil was in the lineup for each of the first four games of the regular season and went 7-for-16 with a homer, three RBI, two runs, two walks and a strikeout. He'll get a breather while Luis Guillorme starts at second base and bats eighth Monday.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 7-3 win over the Nationals.

He got the Mets on the board with a solo shot in the third inning off Josiah Gray, but McNeil kept contributing the rest of the night. The 30-year-old was back at second base for this one after getting the nod in left field Opening Day, but he's been hot at the plate regardless of his defensive assignment, racking up five hits and three RBI over the two games.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's win over the Nationals.

Getting the start in left field and batting eighth Opening Day, McNeil flashed his contact skills that seemed to desert him in 2021. The outfield start came with Brandon Nimmo (neck) sidelined and Dominic Smith sitting against southpaw Patrick Corbin, but most of McNeil's playing time this season is likely to come at second base.

McNeil and the Mets agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $3 million contract to avoid arbitration, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

McNeil's 23-home run outburst in 2019 continues to look like an aberration amid a minor- and major-league career with otherwise middling power production, but his high-contact approach and disciplined eye at the plate are enough to make him useful everyday player. He's expected to serve as the Mets' primary second baseman in 2022, with Robinson Cano -- who is back from a one-year suspension -- likely to handle designated-hitter duties in most games.

McNeil will be the Mets' primary second baseman this season, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Robinson Cano will be returning from a PED suspension and will factor into the picture as well, but he'll also feature at designated hitter and potentially at first base. McNeil can play the outfield corners when Cano handles the keystone, but it sounds as if manager Buck Showalter experts to write McNeil in as his second baseman most nights. Performance will of course be a factor in how frequently McNeil plays this season, as he struggled to a .251/.319/.360 line last year after posting a .319/.383/.501 line in his first three years in the league, but fantasy managers can at least draft him as if he doesn't have playing-time concerns to start the year.

McNeil is out of the lineup Sunday against Atlanta.

McNeil finds himself on the bench for the second time in the final three games of the season. If he doesn't make an appearance off the bench Sunday, the 29-year-old will finish 2021 with a 249/.317/.358 slash line, seven homers, 35 RBI and 48 runs in 426 plate appearances.

McNeil isn't starting Friday's game against Atlanta, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

McNeil went 1-for-2 with two runs, a stolen base and a walk in Thursday's win over Miami, and he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Dominic Smith will start in left field and bat fifth.

McNeil isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

McNeil will take a seat for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-8 with a walk and two strikeouts across his last four appearances. Dominic Smith will start in left field and bat seventh.

McNeill will sit for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Marlins.

McNeil has hit an unimpressive .260/.295/.370 thus far in September. He likely isn't sitting for performance reasons, however, as the Mets will probably give many of their regulars a rest in one of the day's two games. Kevin Pillar starts in left field in his absence.

McNeil will sit Tuesday against the Red Sox, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

McNeil sits after starting nine straight games in left field, a stretch in which he hit .344/.382/.563. Kevin Pillar will fill in for him Tuesday.

McNeil went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run in a 3-2 win against the Phillies on Sunday.

McNeil singled and scored in the fifth inning before launching a solo shot in the seventh off Kyle Gibson to give New York a 3-2 lead that ended up being the final. The long ball was McNeil's first since Aug. 1 and only his fourth extra-base hit in September, and he's slashing .262/.303/.377 in 18 games this month.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and two runs Wednesday in the Mets' 11-4 loss to the Cardinals.

McNeil has churned out three multi-hit performances in his last six starts to raise his average up to .250, but he still isn't supplementing it with many counting stats. He has only two steals on the season, and his 23-homer campaign in 2019 is increasingly looking like a product of the juiced ball. In the two years since, McNeil has left the yard 10 times in just over 600 plate appearances.

McNeil isn't starting Thursday's game against the Marlins, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil will head to the bench after he went 2-for-13 with a run across the last three games. Dominic Smith will start in left field and bat seventh.

McNeil is not in the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil started the past two games and will take a seat for Friday's contest. Jonathan Villar will start at third base while Kevin Pillar starts in left field with Dominic Smith (bereavement) away from the team.

McNeil is out of the lineup Sunday against the Nationals, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil has a .512 OPS through 26 games in August and will head to the bench for the third time in the past four games. Jonathan VIllar will receive the start at first base while batting leadoff for New York.

McNeil isn't starting Friday's game against the Nationals, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Even though right-hander Paolo Espino is starting for the Nationals on Friday, McNeil will retreat to the bench for a second straight game. J.D. Davis will start at the hot corner and bat sixth.

McNeil isn't starting Thursday's game against the Giants.

McNeil has seen some action against lefties this season, but he'll take a seat against southpaw Alex Wood on Thursday. Jonathan Villar will start at the hot corner and bat sixth.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

With lefty David Price on the hill for the Dodgers, Mets manager Luis Rojas will give three of the team's lefty-hitting regulars -- McNeil, Dominic Smith and Michael Conforto -- the day off. J.D. Davis will step in at third base, the position McNeil is expected to see most of his action at the rest of the season with second baseman Javier Baez (back) returning from the injured list Sunday and shortstop Francisco Lindor (oblique) likely to return as early as Tuesday.

McNeil is out of the lineup Friday against the Dodgers, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

McNeil is 8-for-37 (.216 average) through 11 games in August and will receive the day off with lefty Julio Urias pitching for Los Angeles. Brandon Drury will start at the keystone in his place Friday.

McNeil isn't starting Saturday's game against the Phillies, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Manager Luis Rojas had said prior to the series against the Phillies that he expected McNeil to start every game this weekend, but he'll be excluded from the lineup Saturday. Jonathan Villar will start at the keystone and bat sixth.

McNeil is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

He has heated up at the plate recently, hitting .361 with two home runs, six doubles and eight RBI in his last 10 games. Jonathan Villar gets the start at second base and bats leadoff in what's a normal day of rest for McNeil, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-1 loss to Cincinnati.

The 29-year-old got the Mets on the board with a solo shot in the sixth inning. It was his third homer in his last 10 games after having that many in his first 56 contests this season. McNeil is slashing has hit safely in 16 of the last 17 games, going 22-for-62 (.355) in that span. He's posted a .276/.354/.402 slash line with six long balls, 25 RBI, 27 runs scored and two stolen bases through 240 plate appearances overall.

McNeil isn't starting Thursday's game against Atlanta.

McNeil racked up two hits in each of his last two games, and he went 6-for-12 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and two strikeouts during that time. Brandon Drury will start at second base and bat eighth.

McNeil went 2-for-5 with a double and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 12-5 loss to Atlanta.

His fifth-inning blast off Charlie Morton was too little too late, as the Mets were already in a 10-1 hole. McNeil extended his hitting streak to 13 games with the performance, and he's slashing .362/.423/.574 over that stretch with eight runs and 10 RBI in addition to two of his five homers on the year.

McNeil (leg) is starting Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil was held out of the first contest due to a leg injury, but the team has cleared him for the nightcap. He's in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, going 13-for-39 with three extra-base hits, seven RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base over that stretch.

McNeil (leg) won't start Sunday against the Blue Jays, but manager Luis Rojas said the infielder is available off the bench in the series finale, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil will be withheld from the lineup for the third straight game while he contends with left leg muscle fatigue, but the injury doesn't look like anything that will result in an extended shutdown. Even if McNeil goes unused off the bench Sunday, he could be ready to play at least one half of Monday's doubleheader with Atlanta.

McNeil (leg) is not starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Left leg fatigue caused McNeil's exclusion from Friday's lineup and is apparently still bothering the 29-year-old. He's hitting .316 with five RBI and four walks in his last 10 games. Luis Guillorme will start at second base Saturday, with Jonathan Villar playing shortstop.

McNeil is not in the lineup for Friday's game against Toronto due to left leg fatigue, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil exited Wednesday's game with the issue and still isn't ready to play following Thursday's off day. He hurt the same leg back in May, so it makes sense that the Mets would want to be cautious. Luis Guillorme starts at second base in his absence.

McNeil exited Wednesday's game against the Reds with an apparent injury, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The nature of McNeil's injury isn't yet clear, but he appeared to experience some discomfort in the top of the eighth inning and was able to walk off the field under his own power afterward. The 29-year-old went 1-for-4 with a run and a walk prior to his departure, and whether he'll be able to return for Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays remains to be seen.

McNeil went 2-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Monday's 15-11 extra-innings win over the Reds.

He launched a solo shot off Vladimir Gutierrez in the first inning, going back-to-back with Pete Alonso to give the Mets an early 3-0 lead in the wild affair. McNeil has hit safely in eight straight games, and is slashing .280/.359/.329 over 92 plate appearances since returning from the IL in late June, but Monday's homer was his first in that time and only his fourth of the season as his 2019 power output increasingly looks like a product of that year's rabbit ball.

McNeil is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Pirates, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

The infielder tallied a single and a run in four at-bats Friday, lowering his average to .304 in 23 July at-bats. McNeil has failed to recorded an extra-base hit this month, though, and he has driven home just a pair of runs. He'll likely return to the lineup for the nightcap after Jose Peraza plays second base in Game 1.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Milwaukee.

McNeil won the game for the Mets in Game 1 with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, and he'll head to the bench for Game 2. The 29-year-old went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the game. Jose Peraza will cover the keystone in his place.

McNeil isn't starting the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil went 2-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a strikeout in Game 1 on Sunday, and he'll take a seat in the nightcap with left-hander Nestor Cortes starting for the Yankees. Jose Peraza will start at second base and bat ninth.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta.

The lefty-hitting McNeil will take a seat with southpaw Max Fried toeing the rubber for Atlanta. Jose Peraza will fill in at the keystone for McNeil, who has gone 7-for-32 with no extra-base hits in his 10 games since returning from the 10-day injured list June 21.

McNeil isn't starting Saturday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil had started both games in Friday's twin bill, and he went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. He'll get a breather Saturday while Luis Guillorme starts at third base and Jose Peraza starts at the keystone.

McNeil went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 win over Atlanta.

Hitting leadoff in his third start since returning from the IL, McNeil laced three singles to effectively set the table for the Mets. The career .312 hitter figures to remain in a key spot in the batting order until Brandon Nimmo (finger) is also healthy again.

McNeil (hamstring) was activated from the injured list as expected Monday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil wound up missing over a month with a hamstring strain. He'd been having a down season prior to the injury, hitting just .242/.336/.374 in 32 games, though he'd been starting to turn things around right before he got hurt, posting an .850 OPS over his last 11 games. He should be an everyday player going forward, though he won't be asked to start two games in one day immediately upon his return. He'll be on the bench for the first half of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta but should be in the lineup for the nightcap.

The Mets plan to reinstate McNeil (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

Although McNeil won't be available for the team's weekend series against the Nationals, he's expected to start one of the two games in Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta. The 29-year-old has been on the injured list since May 17 due to a left hamstring strain, but he's hit .353 with a home run and two doubles across five rehab games with Triple-A Syracuse.

McNeil (hamstring) is expected to join the team either Sunday or Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil has been on a rehab assignment since Sunday and continues to progress towards a return. It's possible he is activated for the team's final matchup in a three-game set with the Nationals this weekend. His month-long absence could also end when the team opens up a three-game set against Atlanta on Monday.

McNeil (hamstring) went 0-for-2 while playing five innings at second base Sunday in the first game of his rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn.

Since he's been sidelined for more than a month with a strained left hamstring, McNeil is expected to remain on his rehab assignment for about a week before the Mets bring him back from the injured list. Once he returns, McNeil will likely settle into an everyday role at either third or second base, leaving fewer starts available for the likes of Jonathan Villar, Jose Peraza and Luis Guillorme.

McNeil (hamstring) is expected to return from the injured list next weekend, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil has been out for nearly a month with a hamstring strain. He's expected to begin a rehab assignment soon but will need at least a handful of games before he's ready for big-league at-bats given the length of his absence.

McNeil (hamstring) may start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse as soon as Friday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Once healthy, the versatile McNeil will be an invaluable addition to the Mets' injury-depleted roster, even if he underperformed (by his standards) with a .242 average before suffering the hamstring strain in May.

Manager Luis Rojas said Friday that McNeil (hamstring) could be a week or two away from a rehab assignment, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil was initially expected to be sidelined until late June due to a significant hamstring strain that he sustained in mid-May, but he's trending in the right direction. The 29-year-old will likely require multiple rehab games following his lengthy absence, so it's not yet clear when he could return to the major-league club.

McNeil's hamstring strain is a significant one and is expected to keep him out until late June, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

The Mets have managed to limp to first place in a rather mediocre NL East despite a significant injury crisis, but that crisis won't be letting up any time soon, as both McNeil and Michael Conforto are expected to miss another month with their hamstring strains. Jose Peraza has been the primary second baseman in McNeil's absence and should remain in the role for now, though his .610 OPS could send the Mets searching for alternatives.

McNeil (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.

McNeil exited Sunday's loss to the Rays with left hamstring tightness, but he's now been diagnosed with a strain after he underwent an MRI. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return, but Johneshwy Fargas' contract was selected and Khalil Lee was recalled as part of the transaction.

McNeil will be placed on the injured list Monday with a left hamstring strain, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

McNeil left Sunday's game against the Rays with what was originally called left hamstring tightness, but an MRI revealed an injury serious enough to sideline him for at least 10 days. Exactly how much time he'll miss remains unclear. The Mets are rather beat up at the moment and are also without infielders J.D. Davis (hand) and Luis Guillorme (oblique). Jonathan Villar has already moved into a starting role at third base, so Jose Peraza should fill in for McNeil at second, something he was already doing late last week while McNeil battled leg and back cramps.

McNeil (hamstring) will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of his injury, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil was initially diagnosed with left hamstring tightness after he left Sunday's game against the Rays. He should be considered day-to-day until the results of his MRI are known.

McNeil (cramps) was removed from Sunday's game against the Rays with left hamstring tightness, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

The 29-year-old has been dealing with leg and back cramps throughout the week, but he's now managing a hamstring issue after going 1-for-1 as the designated hitter Sunday in Tampa Bay. McNeil was expected to start at second base Monday, but that plan is now obviously in flux given his early departure.

McNeil (cramps) will bat leadoff as the designated hitter Sunday at Tampa Bay.

The 29-year-old hasn't played the field since Tuesday when he began experiencing cramping, but he'll serve as the designated hitter for the second time against the Rays. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, McNeil is expected to be back starting at second base Monday in Atlanta.

McNeil (cramps) is expected to be back in the lineup Sunday and is available off the bench Saturday, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

McNeil has dealt with cramps throughout the week and is out of the lineup Saturday after serving as the designated hitter Friday. Manager Luis Rojas offered a number of different reasons for his absence, including that the Rays are starting a lefty on Saturday. However, Rojas ultimately did state that he didn't feel McNeil was running run at full speed Friday and may have been hesitant on the basepaths. Assuming all goes well, McNeil should be back Sunday, but the team appears to be taking a cautious approach.

McNeil is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rays, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

McNeil was dealing body cramps earlier in the week which cost him Wednesday's game. After returning as the designated hitter Friday, he will be out of the lineup once again Saturday with left-hander Shane McClanahan on the mound. Jose Peraza takes over at second base and will hit ninth.

McNeil (cramps) will lead off and serve as the designated hitter for Friday's game against the Rays.

McNeil left Tuesday's game against the Orioles with what was referred to as "body cramps" and did not start Wednesday. He's ready to go following Thursday's off day, albeit only as a hitter for now.

McNeil (cramps) isn't starting Wednesday against the Orioles.

McNeil was removed from Tuesday's matchup with body cramps, and he'll be held out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale. Jose Peraza will start at second base and bat seventh.

Manager Luis Rojas said McNeil (cramps) didn't pull a muscle and feels like he "dodged a bullet" Tuesday against the Orioles Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

The cramping began in the 29-year-old's legs before spreading to his back, but it shouldn't present any long-term issues. McNeil should be considered day-to-day and may not miss much time, if any, though his status for Wednesday's series finale is in doubt with a quick turnaround for the 12:10 ET start.

McNeil exited Tuesday's game against the Orioles with "body cramps," Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The 29-year-old started off 2-for-2 but pulled up trying to stretch a single into a double during the fourth inning, and he promptly exited the contest. It sounds like a minor injury, and McNeil should be considered day-to-day.

McNeil went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in the Mets 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

McNeil homered off Merrill Kelly in the third inning for his third of the year. He also stole his first bag of the season in the seventh frame, giving himself a combo meal Saturday. The 29-year old is struggling at the plate, slashing .227/.327/.364 with three home runs, eight RBI and 13 runs in 105 plate appearances. He is a career .311 hitter so his sluggish start is uncharacteristic, but he is fitting right in with the lack of offensive production in Queens.

McNeil went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Red Sox.

He took Garret Richards deep in the second inning, his second blast of the year, to give the Mets an early lead but the team's offense went cold after that. McNeil has yet to heat up at the plate and is still looking for his first multi-hit game of the season, but he's shown some flickers of life by hitting .237 (9-for-38) over his last 12 games with a homer and two doubles.

McNeil is not in Sunday's lineup against the Nationals.

McNeil is absent from the team's lineup for the second time in the last four games, this time with lefty Patrick Corbin on the mound. Jonathan Villar will take over at second base and hit seventh.

McNeil isn't starting Thursday's game against the Cubs, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil what gone 3-for-15 with two doubles, three RBI and a run in the last four games and will get a breather Thursday. Jonathan Villar will start at second base Thursday, batting seventh.

McNeil went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday against the Marlins.

McNeil led off the ninth inning with the Mets down 2-1, but drove an Anthony Bass offering over the right field wall to tie the game. It was both his first hit and home run of the campaign, as he entered the game 0-for-8 at the dish. McNeil should be a regular in the lineup at second base throughout the season.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

After going 0-for-7 with a walk while starting at second base in the first two games of the season-opening series in Philadelphia, McNeil will take a seat against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. McNeil should still be a fixture in the lineup against both right- and left-handed pitching, but manager Luis Rojas may just have wanted to get an early-season look at utility man Jonathan Villar, who will cover second base Wednesday.

McNeil has only one hit, a solo home run, in 18 at-bats through his first seven Grapefruit League appearances.

He's also had some defensive issues at third base, and his 0:4 BB:K could use some work. McNeil's starting job isn't in any jeopardy however, and he should spend most of his time at second base while hitting near the top of the order after beginning his big-league career with a .319/.383/.501 slash line.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Since the Mets have been eliminated from the postseason, manager Luis Rojas will rest a few of his everyday players in McNeil, Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis with little being at stake in the regular-season finale. Assuming McNeil goes unused off the bench, he'll wrap up his third big-league season with a .311/.383/.454 slash line over 209 plate appearances.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a pair of base hits Tuesday in the Mets' 5-2 win over the Rays.

Since homering in four consecutive games earlier this month, McNeil's power output has tailed off, but he's continued to rack up hits atop the Mets lineup. He's already turned in 10 multi-hit performances in 20 September games, good for a .405 average on the month.

McNeil (illness) will bat seventh and play left field Tuesday against the Phillies.

Gastrointestinal discomfort forced McNeil to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, but the issue evidently hasn't lingered. He'll look to keep his excellent September going against the Phillies, as he owns a 1.300 OPS since the start of the month.

McNeil left Sunday's game against the Blue Jays with gastrointestinal discomfort, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil was replaced defensively in the bottom of the fourth inning as a result of the issue. The Mets have a day off Monday, and it's unclear whether he'll be ready to return to action Tuesday.

McNeil went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI a walk and a run scored as he helped lead the Mets to a 7-6 over the Orioles on Wednesday.

McNeil got the Mets on the board in the second with a sharp line-drive RBI single to right and added on two more RBI in the fourth with a home run, his fourth in as many games. The 28-year-old appears to be zoned in at the plate as he's hitting .441/.525/.912 with four home runs and 10 RBI in nine games since September began.

McNeil went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run Tuesday against the Mets.

McNeil homered in his third consecutive game, accounting for each of his long balls this season. This time, he took Asher Wojciechowski deep in the eighth inning. Overall, McNeil is hitting .306/.378/.468 across 143 plate appearances.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk Monday against the Phillies.

After failing to go deep in his first 33 games this season, McNeil has two homers in his past two starts. On Monday, he took David Phelps deep for a three-run shot in the seventh inning. Aside from his power, McNeil continues to make plenty of contact as he is currently hitting .298/.367/.438 across 139 plate appearances.

McNeil went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in the Mets' 14-1 win over the Phillies.

McNeil provided one of five long balls on the day for the Mets, who came through with their best run output of the season against Phillies ace Aaron Nola. The 28-year-old has supplied hits in all but one of his last 10 games, going 14-for-38 (.368 average) with a home run, seven doubles, a 3:3 BB:K, five runs and four RBI over that stretch. He'll bat seventh and man left field for the fourth straight game in Monday's series finale.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Tuesday against the Orioles.

McNeil extended his hitting streak to five games with this performance, during which he's gone 8-for-18 with four doubles an RBI and two runs scored. While his power has been nowhere to be found to this point in the season, McNeil has maintained a .289 batting average and .351 on-base percentage through 111 plate appearances.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in the 5-3 loss to Miami in Monday.

McNeil opened the scoring in the third inning, driving in Ahmed Rosario with a double to right field. The second baseman hit another two-bagger later in the game and is now hitting .269/.336/.344 on the season.

McNeil isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Yankees, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

McNeil started both games in Friday's doubleheader, but he'll get a day off Saturday. Brandon Nimmo will shift to left field with Billy Hamilton starting in center field.

McNeil is starting at second base and hitting eighth during Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Marlins.

He has not played since Aug. 18 due to the Mets' COVID-19 postponements and due to a knee issue that had bothered him dating back a couple weeks. McNeil has not batted lower than third in the order this season and is 2-for-18 over his last six games.

McNeil is not starting Thursday against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil is situated on the bench for a second straight game, with Luis Guillorme picking up another start in his absence. There has been no word of any injury, though it's worth noting that McNeil returned from a knee issue earlier in the week and played in a pair of games before retreating to the bench.

McNeil is not starting Wednesday against the Marlins.

McNeil -- who returned from a minor knee injury earlier in the week -- will head to the bench Wednesday after starting the past two games and going 1-for-8 with an RBI. In his absence, the Mets are going with an outfield of Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto from left to right.

McNeil (knee) is starting Monday against the Marlins.

McNeil appeared in Sunday's game as a pinch hitter, but he'll return to the starting lineup for the first time since suffering a bone bruise Thursday. The 28-year-old is slashing .288/.353/.356 with four doubles and seven RBI this season.

McNeil (knee) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Phillies but is available off the bench, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

He was available off the bench Saturday as well but was not used. With Dominic Smith, Andres Gimenez and Luis Guillorme all swinging hot bats, the Mets can afford to be a little patient with McNeil.

McNeil (knee) feels better but isn't in the lineup Friday against the Phillies, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old was carted off the field Thursday and is considered day-to-day after being diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee, but he was never expected to be back in the lineup Friday. McNeil isn't expected to require a trip on the injury list with the X-ray and MRI results coming back clean, but he may not be available for the weekend series in Philadelphia.

McNeil (knee) is day-to-day with a bone bruise in his left knee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil had to be carted off the field Thursday after colliding with the outfield wall, but it sounds like he avoided a potentially serious injury after his X-ray and MRI both came back clean. While the outfielder doesn't appear to be a candidate for the injured list, he'll likely miss at least a few games. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the belief is that McNeil may be able to play in five days.

An X-ray on McNeil's knee came back negative, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

McNeil had to be carted off the field after he crashed into the outfield wall following an impressive catch Thursday against the Nationals. It sounds like he may have escaped with a bad bruise, though the outfielder will undergo an MRI in the coming days to be sure.

McNeil (undisclosed) was carted off the field Thursday against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McNeil slammed into the outfield wall after he made a spectacular catch at the warning track to end the first inning. He initially tried to walk back to the dugout but was forced to call for the cart after a few steps. Billy Hamilton entered the game in place of McNeil, whose status should be updated after he's further evaluated in the coming days.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Monday's 16-4 loss to the Nationals.

Little went right for the Mets in this one, but McNeil at least had a productive night. After seeing most of his action at third base to begin the season, the 28-year-old has started four straight games in left field while swapping places defensively with J.D. Davis, perhaps in an effort to avoid the back issues that cost McNeil three games earlier this month. Wherever he plays, he just keeps hitting -- McNeil is slashing .327/.397/.408 on the year, although he's still looking for his first homer.

McNeil (back) will bat second and play left field Friday against the Marlins.

McNeil was scratched Monday with lower-back tightness and later diagnosed with an intercostal strain. He's good to go now after a three-game absence and will look to build upon a strong start to the season that saw him hit .343 through his first 10 games.

McNeil (back) isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals.

McNeil received more clarity on his back issue Tuesday when an MRI revealed a low-grade right intercostal strain, but he'll remain out Wednesday. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since Monday but is still considered day-to-day. J.D. Davis will start at third base in McNeil's place, while Billy Hamilton will make his Mets debut in center field, batting ninth.

McNeil (back) was diagnosed with a low-grade right intercostal strain Tuesday and is considered day-to-day, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

The 28-year-old was scratched from Monday's lineup with lower-back tightness, and he'll avoid the injured list for now after undergoing an MRI on Tuesday. McNeil and Amed Rosario (quadriceps) are out of the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals, while Robinson Cano (groin) was placed on the injured list.

McNeil (back) underwent an MRI on Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

McNeil was a late scratch Monday due to lower-back tightness. How much more time he's set to miss depends on the results of the MRI.

McNeil was scratched from Monday's lineup after experiencing lower-back tightness during his pre-game batting cage routine, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

It sounds like this could be just a day-to-day situation for McNeil, but back injuries are always tricky to predict. Luis Guillorme and Andres Gimenez could pick up extra starts at third base if McNeil misses more than just Monday's game.

McNeil was a last minute scratch from Monday's lineup against the Braves, Steve Gelbs of SNY TV reports.

J.D. Davis will start at designated hitter with Dominic Smith starting in left field. There has been no reason given for McNeil's removal from the lineup.

McNeil will hit the bench for the first time this season Friday against Atlanta, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil started each of the Mets' first seven games, hitting .308 while driving in five runs. Andres Gimenez will start at the hot corner in his absence. McNeil's absence comes against a lefty (Sean Newcomb), but don't expect him to fall into a platoon role any time soon, as he's already started five times against southpaws so far this season.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with two RBI on Thursday against the Red Sox.

McNeil provided a bases loaded single in the bottom of the third inning, accounting for the entirety of the Mets' offense in the contest. He's opened the season by reaching base 10 times in his first 31 plate appearances, and struck out just twice to this point.

McNeil (illness) will start at third base and bat leadoff in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil missed the past couple days of action while battling flu-like symptoms, but the Mets were apparently satisfied with his health when he reported to the ballpark Sunday. The 27-year-old saw action at several different spots in 2019, but he's expected to find a permanent home at third base this season for the Mets.

McNeil was sent back to his Port St. Lucie lodgings Friday due to having flu-like symptoms, Anthony Rieber of Newsday Sports reports.

McNeil did not play in Friday's game against Houston and given that he had to be sent home from the team's facility, it seems possible that he could be out of the lineup for a few days. That being said, as long as the 27-year-old can get through the illness soon, he should stay on track to be a go for Opening Day.

McNeil said Saturday that he expects to man third base on a full-time basis in 2020, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports. "I think I'll be playing a lot of third. I've gone through my normal offseason routine," McNeil said, referencing the wrist surgery he required in early October. "It was a good two-month rehab, then back to a normal offseason."

The 27-year-old headed into spring training in 2019 as a utility man, but injuries soon opened up an everyday role that McNeil wouldn't relinquish. McNeil put together a .318/.384/.531 slash line across 567 plate appearances and picked up his first All-Star nod along the way, with his poor defense in either corner outfield spot seemingly representing the only blemish on his season. He was far more capable at third base, so he shouldn't lose out on any at-bats for defensive-related reasons while Jed Lowrie fills McNeil's old utility role. In addition to third base, McNeil should have eligibility at second base and in the outfield in the majority of fantasy leagues to begin 2020.

McNeil (wrist) said Saturday that his injury is fully healed, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

McNeil underwent surgery at the beginning of October, and his rehab went according to plan. The 27-year-old figures to spend a good portion of his time at third base this season, but his defensive versatility props up his fantasy value and should give him more chances to play heading into 2020.