Mets' Paul Blackburn: Out up to five months post-surgery
Rotowire
Blackburn underwent surgery Oct. 11 to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Per the Mets, it's a procedure which typically carries a return to play timeline of 4-5 months. That would seemingly give Blackburn a shot to be ready in time for Opening Day, provided there are no setbacks along the way. If healthy, Blackburn should open the 2025 season in the Mets' rotation. He held a 4.66 ERA and 59:21 K:BB over 75.1 innings covering 14 starts between the Athletics and Mets in 2024.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Senga is unlikely to pitch Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Mendoza had previously said Senga would be used in some capacity. However, David Peterson will start the game and it now appears Mendoza doesn't intend to use Senga in relief, barring an emergency. Senga started Game 1 of the NLCS and yielded three runs with a 0:4 K:BB over 1.1 innings.
Iglesias is absent from the lineup Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Iglesias had started every game of the postseason so far for the Mets but is slashing just .227/.261/.227 in 11 contests. Jeff McNeil is starting at second base and batting eighth Friday as the Mets try to avoid elimination.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Back at DH for Game 5
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Winker will start at designated hitter and bat fifth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
He sat in favor of J.D. Martinez in Games 3 and 4, but Winker will be back in there Friday as the Mets try to stave off elimination. The 31-year-old is 2-for-7 with a 2:2 BB:K at the plate during the NLCS.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Getting start at second base
Rotowire
McNeil is starting at second base and batting eighth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
It's the first start this postseason for McNeil, who was added to the Mets' NLCS roster after recovering from a fractured right wrist. He is hitless in three pinch-hitting appearances to this point in the series. Jose Iglesias -- who is 5-for-14 with a 2:1 K:BB in the series -- will begin Friday's contest on the bench.
