Mets wont be hesitant to start Jeff McNeil in right spot during NLCS

LOS ANGELES — Jeff McNeil missed over a month before returning to the Mets roster on Sunday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be limited to a bench role.The veteran utilityman, who was placed on the NLCS roster following a short rehab of his right wrist, was absent from the starting lineup for a 9-0 Game 1 loss to the Dodgers.But manager Carlos Mendoza said he won’t hesitate to use McNeil in a starting role if it makes sense on a particular day.“His bat-to-ball skills, that’s his calling,” Mendoza said.

“That’s what he’s been his whole career.I am going to go back to spring training where he didn’t play that many games and he was in our Opening Day lineup because of his bat-to-ball skills.”McNeil, who played Friday and Saturday in the Arizona Fall League to sharpen his skills, is pleased he will get a chance to contribute after fracturing the wrist last month on a hit by pitch.“Just being in this organization for as long as I have and not getting too deep in the playoffs it means a lot to play in such a big series here,” McNeil said.

“I am just super happy.”McNeil had a .923 OPS following the All-Star break after sputtering in the first half.McNeil’s return couldn’t have come in a better place — he grew up two hours north of Dodger Stadium in Santa Barbara.“I was a Dodgers fan growing up,” McNeil said.“It means a lot to play in this ballpark.

I remember when I got called up in 2018 this is one of the first places I got to play.It was pretty cool and special for me to play in this ballpark.”Luisangel Acuña remained as a bench option, going hitless in a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth, as Adam Ottavino was omitted from the NLCS roster to create space for McNeil.“The versatility, there’s a lot to like,” Mendoza said, referring to Acuna.

“In a series like this, it’s going to allow us to be more aggressive.”Danny Young made his first appearance of the postseason, walking one in 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings...