SAN DIEGO — Brett Baty’s sore left hamstring isn’t a major concern, but the Mets want to ensure it doesn’t worsen.
To that end, manager Buck Showalter kept the rookie third baseman on the bench for a second straight night as the Mets opened a three-game series Friday against the Padres.
Luis Guillorme received a second straight start at third base.
Showalter said the Mets had considered holding out Baty throughout the weekend (also giving him the four-day All-Star break to rest), but such a measure wasn’t deemed necessary.
“He’s close — better than [Thursday]” Showalter said. “I expect him to be a player at some point.”
Baty, who woke up Thursday with the discomfort, has a history with hamstring issues, according to Showalter.
“He’s got a pretty good feel for it,” Showalter said.
Showalter expressed disappointment that Francisco Lindor wasn’t added to the National League All-Star roster to replace the Cubs’ Dansby Swanson, who withdrew because of an injury.
The Diamondbacks’ Geraldo Perdomo was chosen in Swanson’s spot.
But Showalter stopped short of saying Lindor was more worthy of the spot than Perdomo.
“I am not going to evaluate other teams’ players,” Showalter said. “I know our guy is having a very worthy [season]. So are other people.”
Jose Quintana’s final minor league rehab start is scheduled for Saturday with Triple-A Syracuse. Showalter previously said the start would come Friday, but organizational officials placed Joey Lucchesi in that spot instead.
The expectation is Quintana will throw 75-80 pitches and then throw a simulated game Thursday at Citi Field.
Pete Alonso took batting practice before the game from his former youth league coach Mike Friedlein, who will pitch to him in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Seattle.
Alonso won the event in 2019 with his cousin Derek Morgan as the pitcher and repeated in 2021 (the derby was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic) with former Mets bench coach Dave Jauss pitching to him.