Winker will start at designated hitter and bat fifth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
He sat in favor of J.D. Martinez in Games 3 and 4, but Winker will be back in there Friday as the Mets try to stave off elimination. The 31-year-old is 2-for-7 with a 2:2 BB:K at the plate during the NLCS.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting out again in Game 4
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Winker is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers.
J.D. Martinez will receive a second straight start at designated hitter after walking twice and striking out twice in four plate appearances in Game 3. Winker is slashing .267/.476/.600 with one home run this postseason.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Rotowire
Winker is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Dodgers.
Winker has typically been starting at designated hitter against right-handed pitching, but he will begin this one on the bench versus righty Walker Buehler. The Mets will go with J.D. Martinez at DH and in the No. 6 spot in the lineup.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Not in NLDS Game 4 lineup
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Winker is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS versus the Phillies.
The Phillies are sending lefty Ranger Suarez to the bump as they try to stave off elimination, so the left-handed-hitting Winker will yield to J.D. Martinez at designated hitter. Winker homered in the Mets' Game 3 victory and is a candidate to see action off the bench in Game 4.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Beginning on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Winker is not in the Mets' lineup for Sunday's Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies.
Winker started at DH in Game 1 of the series and went 0-for-1 with two walks before J.D. Martinez pinch hit for him in the eighth inning. Martinez is starting at DH on Sunday as the veterans continue to split time at the position. Sunday will be Martinez's second start at DH in the postseason, while Winker has started three times.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Absent from Game 2 lineup
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Winker is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series in Milwaukee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker contributed a two-run triple out of the designated hitter spot for the Mets in Game 1, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench against Brewers righty Frankie Montas. J.D. Martinez will be the DH and bat sixth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: In Game 1 lineup
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Winker (back) will start at designated hitter and bat sixth Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Winker didn't see any action in the final four games of the regular season while nursing a minor back injury, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in the first game of the postseason. He went just 3-for-42 at the plate in September.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Included on wild-card roster
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Winker (back) is on the Mets' roster for the National League Wild Card Series against the Brewers.
Winker did not play in the final four games of the regular season while battling a back injury, but the Mets have deemed him healthy enough to be part of their roster for the first round of the playoffs. What is not yet clear is whether Winker will be in the lineup for Game 1 versus righty Freddy Peralta.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Nursing back injury
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Winker is uncertain to be included on the Mets' wild-card roster due to a back injury, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Winker didn't play in the Mets' final four games, including the last three against right-handed pitching. He was spotted Monday with his back taped up, suggesting that could be the reason for his recent absence. If Winker is unavailable, J.D. Martinez could become the Mets' regular designated hitter again. Brett Baty is with the Mets on their taxi squad and is likely to be added to the active roster if Winker is a no-go.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Absent from lineup
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Winker is not in the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Winker has now been out of the lineup for three straight contests, with the last two coming against right-handed pitching. The Mets will go with J.D. Martinez at designated hitter.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting again Sunday
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Winker is absent from Sunday's lineup against the Brewers.
Winker will be out of the Mets' lineup for a second straight game. J.D. Martinez will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Steps out of lineup
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Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday versus the Brewers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker will get a chance to clear his head Saturday after going 0-for-15 across his past seven games. His absence will move Francisco Lindor into the DH spot, opening up shortstop for Luisangel Acuna.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting versus southpaw
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Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies.
With left-hander Ranger Suarez set to toe the slab for Philadelphia, the lefty-hitting Winker will grab a seat on the bench to begin Saturday's contest. Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor will start across the outfield instead.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: On bench versus lefty
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Winker has gone 3-for-33 through 15 games in September and will sit Friday as southpaw Cristopher Sanchez takes the mound for Philadelphia. Brandon Nimmo will shift to left field while Harrison Bader starts in center.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting versus southpaw
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Winker is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Southpaw DJ Herz is on the hill for the Nationals, so the left-handed-hitting Winker will grab a seat. Brandon Nimmo is playing left field for the Mets while Harrison Bader patrols center.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Southpaw Cristopher Sanchez is on the bump for the Phillies, so the lefty-hitting Winker will retreat to the bench. He'll be replaced in the outfield by Harrison Bader, who covers center field while Brandon Nimmo shifts over to left.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Idle against LHP
Rotowire
Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The left-handed bat of Winker will sit down to begin Saturday's game while fellow left-hander Kolby Allard starts on the mound for Philly. Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte will make up the Mets' outfield unit while Winker rests.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting against righty
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Though right-hander Bowden Francis is on the hill for Toronto, the lefty-hitting Winker will find himself as the odd man out of the lineup Wednesday. Between the outfield and designated hitter, the Mets have four spots available in their regular lineup for five players (Winker, Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader, Starling Marte and J.D. Martinez), so manager Carlos Mendoza will likely rotate off days among that group. Through nine games in September, Winker has gone 2-for-22 with seven strikeouts, so he could end up sitting more frequently than the other four players if he's unable to break out of his funk at the plate.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Heading to bench Monday
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Winker had started in each of the Mets' last six matchups -- all against right-handed pitching -- and went 1-for-18 with six strikeouts. The Mets have been running a four-man committee in the outfield of late with Winker, Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Harrison Bader all vying for playing time. Winker will continue to sit regularly versus lefties, and he could find himself out of the mix versus right-handers more frequently if he's unable to break out of his funk at the plate.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Supplies big blow in win
Rotowire
Winker went 1-for-3 with a walk, a grand slam and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Red Sox.
The 31-year-old took Tanner Houck deep in the first inning, giving the Mets an early lead they would never relinquish. Winker has been a strong addition to the New York lineup as the team pushes for the playoffs -- in 30 games since being traded by the Nationals to their NL East rivals, he's slashing .306/.341/.471 with three homers, 12 runs and 13 RBI.
