SAN FRANCISCO — Brett Baty’s approach is there for the Mets, even if the results haven’t followed in his first week back in the major leagues.
The rookie third baseman was in the lineup Saturday, giving him consecutive starts for the first time since his recall Monday from Triple-A Syracuse. Baty went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the Mets’ 7-4 loss to the Giants.
Baty has a .235/.278/.235 slash line with two RBIs in his five games since he was recalled.
“He’s had a couple of frustrating at-bats, especially with some ball/strike calls that he’s been very professional and mature about it and not let it snowball and come back with some good at-bats,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s played third base well. I am really happy with where he is.”
Baty was sent to Syracuse to begin the season in large part to gain defensive reps at third base. He booted a grounder Saturday for his first error since joining the Mets.
Before the game, Showalter praised Baty’s defense.
“He is just completing plays,” Showalter said. “‘There’s three parts of it: You have got to catch it, you have got to transfer it and you have got to throw it. I think what a lot of people miss is the transfer and how important that is … but his clock has been good.”
Justin Verlander is scheduled to pitch live batting practice Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the next step in his progression toward rejoining the team.
If Verlander comes through the session without any issues, he’s expected to pitch a minor league rehab game on Friday and could potentially join the Mets’ rotation during the first week of May.
The right-hander has started the season on the injured list with a strained teres major muscle near his right armpit.
Pete Alonso, who entered leading the majors with 10 homers, is the first player in Mets history to reach double digits before May 1.
He was the first player in four years to hit at least 10 homers in the first 21 games of his team’s season.
A night earlier, Alonso became the fourth player in franchise history to record at least four RBIs apiece in consecutive games.
Lucas Duda last accomplished the feat for the Mets in 2015.
Carlos Beltran (three times) and Robin Ventura (twice) are the other Mets players who had at least four RBIs apiece in consecutive games.
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