Maybe the Mets are trying to give Juan Soto some new perspective.
The slugger, usually found in the No. 2 spot in the lineup, was shifted down a spot to No. 3 for the finale of a three-game set in Boston, batting after Francisco Lindor and Starling Marte, and ahead of Pete Alonso.
Soto has been in the midst of a rough stretch with the Amazin’s, in which he slowly jogged to first base during Sunday’s Subway Series finale in the Bronx and compounded that by watching a deep drive off the Green Monster at Fenway Park on Monday, limiting himself to a single.
The outfielder has yet to find his groove at the plate 48 games into his 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, slashing .247/.379/.437 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs thus far.
“When you sign that type of contract, there’s going to be more eyes on you and he knows that,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said before Tuesday’s game in Boston. “He knows that and he’s embraced that. This is nothing new. He’s always been a superstar. I think he’s comfortable. I think he’s just a good player, probably not getting the results he wants.”
Mendoza seems to think a lineup tweak may change that.
