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Brandon Nimmo made it his mission this offseason to be a dependable bat for the Mets, and not just when he was facing right-handed pitchers. The center fielder is off to a promising start facing
Brandon Nimmo made it his mission this offseason to be a dependable bat for the Mets, and not just when he was facing right-handed pitchers.
The center fielder is off to a promising start facing both righties and lefties. His three-hit game Thursday made him 6-for-14 with five walks through the first four games. He is 2-for-3 against lefties, while adding his first two extra-base hits of the season with a pair of doubles against righties in the 3-2 win over the Marlins.
“He’s doing a really good job,” manager Luis Rojas said. “He’s setting the tone for us.”
Both of Nimmo’s doubles Thursday came with two strikes. The second one came in the ninth inning to help extend the game-winning rally. Rojas took note of that, especially because Nimmo is a career .177 hitter with two strikes.
“It’s comforting to see Nimmo in the comfort zone that he is right now,” Rojas said. “Two-strike approach is another thing that needed to come. His career as a hitter, we know his plate discipline, but the two-strike approach that he’s shown has been a really good one.”
Nimmo has led off every game except for the season opener, when the Phillies were starting a lefty and Nimmo batted eighth. But Rojas said he expects Nimmo to bat leadoff against his share of lefties.
J.D. Davis remained out of the lineup Thursday after getting hit on the left hand with a pitch on Tuesday. While Jonathan Villar got the start for him at third base against the Marlins, Luis Guillorme has also been solid filling in for Davis.
Before he pinch-hit in the ninth inning with a single and came around to score the winning run Thursday, Guillorme had gone 2-for-5 with two walks since taking over for Davis early in Tuesday’s game.
This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Greg Joyce
