Mets Brett Baty, Luisangel Acua both failing to capitalize on 2nd base opportunity

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.While Jeff McNeil works his way back from the oblique strain suffered during spring training, the Mets continue to search for offense from second base. Both Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña have disappointed at the plate in McNeil’s absence. Instead of forming a decent lefty-righty platoon for Carlos Mendoza, the young duo has mostly flailed at the plate. The Mets entered Monday’s game against the Marlins with the worst OPS among second basemen in the majors (.306), and the two have combined to go 4-for-35 with a walk and 11 strikeouts. Acuña then went out and went hitless with a misplay on a grounder in the seventh inning of a 2-0 win over the Marlins at Citi Field Monday night. That lack of production has been somewhat masked by having Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo ahead of them, as well as Francisco Lindor, who figures to be warming up.

President of baseball operations David Stearns said prior to the game he hoped one of either Baty or Acuña would take hold of the position until McNeil’s return — which figures to be weeks away, since he’s been unable to hit outside due to the inclement weather in recent days at Citi Field. “Offensively, both players haven’t gotten off to the starts they would have liked,” Stearns said.“Brett had a really hot spring training and we saw the type of potential and quality at-bats he had.

For him, it’s just getting back to that approach and seeing some results.That’s a big part of it at the major league level.

You’re gonna need to see some results to get that confidence back.” Baty’s struggles come after he slumped last season after winning the starting job at third base and then lost the spot to Mark Vientos — who, like Baty and Acuña, has gotten off to an ugly start at the plate. “If we can have some hits fall for both those guys, hopefully w...