Mets' Jesse Winker leaves first game of doubleheader due to injury

New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker left the first game of Sunday's doubleheader in the fourth inning due to injury.

May 1, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker (3) runs out a double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Jesse Winker made his first outfield start of the season for the New York Mets in Game 1 of Sunday’s road doubleheader, but it did not last long.

When the Mets took the field in the bottom of the fourth inning, Winker was replaced in the lineup by third baseman Mark Vientos. Jeff McNeil, who started the game at second base, moved to left field, while Luisangel Acuña shifted from third to second.

About 20 minutes later, the Mets announced that Winker had been pulled from the game due to right side discomfort. Manager Carlos Mendoza shared after the game that Winker was undergoing an MRI on his oblique area.

Carlos Mendoza says that Jesse Winker felt discomfort in his oblique area and is getting an MRI right now: pic.twitter.com/bi6PeRC4L7

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 4, 2025

Mendoza clarified that Winker's injury occurred in the third inning, when he made a throw home from left field on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Gorman. Offensively, he worked a walk and drove in a run with a sac fly of his own before leaving the game.

The Cardinals score a run but run theselves out of the third inning as Nolan Arenado is tagged out in a rundown between third and home pic.twitter.com/zw1icumW1B

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 4, 2025

Winker, 31, had played just two innings in left field this season prior to Sunday’s game, entering as a defensive replacement both times. He had made each of his previous 18 starts as the team’s designated hitter.

The veteran lefty slugger is slashing .239/.321/.418 with one home run and 10 RBIs through his first 24 games of the 2025 campaign. He re-signed with the Mets on a one-year, $8 million deal in January after contributing to last year’s second-half postseason run as a trade-deadline pickup.

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If Winker’s injury forces him to miss time, the Mets may not need to call up an outfielder, as they already have five others on the active roster. However, a left-handed bat to platoon with right-handed Starling Marte at designated hitter could be a fit.

A couple of players in Triple-A who fit that profile include first baseman Jon Singleton (.965 OPS over 80 at-bats with Syracuse) and versatile infielder Brett Baty, who was recently optioned to get consistent playing time following McNeil’s return.