Carson Benge will face ‘some’ southpaws, but out of Mets’ lineup Wednesday vs. Cardinals

Mets rookie right fielder Carson Benge will get an opportunity to face “some” left-handed pitchers this season, but that is not starting on Wednesday. 

Manager Carlos Mendoza instead went with a righty-heavy lineup against Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore for New York’s series finale in St. Louis — the first time this season that the team is encountering a lefty starter. 

“Early on, I’ve got to give some of the other guys a chance, as well,” Mendoza told reporters in St. Louis (h/t SNY). “That’s how our roster is constructed. We have some guys here to face lefties, we have some guys that will mix and match. I thought today was a good opportunity for our righties.”

Tyrone Taylor received his first start of the season, taking Benge’s place in right field. Mark Vientos got the green light at first base, and switch-hitter Jorge Polanco — who is dealing with an Achilles injury — is back at DH. 

Benge did get called in to pinch-hit for Taylor with two outs and two men on in the seventh inning with the game tied at one apiece, but the Cardinals quickly countered by removing right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek for lefty JoJo Romero. He struck out swinging on an inside slider to end the threat. 

This was the most-changed lineup Mendoza had put forth to date, as the Mets are keen on showcasing a deep, versatile roster, and Benge has mostly been the benefactor throughout the first week of the season. When Luis Robert Jr. needed a day off in center on Monday against Cardinals righty Kyle Leahy, Benge shifted over to that spot, and fellow left-handed bat Brett Baty was given his first-career start in right field. 

Vientos had just three at-bats in the Mets’ first five games of the season, while Taylor had been called in just once as a pinch runner on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

For more on Carson Benge and the Mets, visit AMNY.com