Starling Marte received a break Saturday — for what Mets manager Buck Showalter termed a “combination” of reasons, relating to the matchup and his recent slump.
The struggling outfielder was out of the lineup for a second straight game, taking a seat against the Giants’ Anthony DeSclafani, against whom he has struggled and amid a poor stretch in what has been a poor first half of a season.
Marte entered the day 3-for-23 (.130) against DeSclafani in his career with six strikeouts and no extra-base hits.
Overall, he had gone just 4-for-21 (all singles) in his past six games, dropping his OPS to .634 a season after he finished with an .814 OPS.
“You think he’s getting some traction and some footing, and you think he’s going to start having a good run of offense,” Showalter said before the Mets faced the Giants at Citi Field. “It hasn’t been there consistently like it had in the past.
“He’s always been a guy that goes through periods where he doesn’t walk a lot and his pitch recognition might get a little [off]. But this has been tough for him. It’s been a challenge.”
The 34-year-old Marte expressed confidence Friday he still can play the same All-Star level he was at last season.
But the 12-year major leaguer has fallen in just about every metric, most notably foot speed, which is detrimental for a player whose game has been based largely on athleticism.
Marte also has struck out at a slightly higher rate and walked at a slightly lower rate, while chasing more pitches outside of the strike zone.
Showalter said he was giving Marte “one more day” in a move that recalls the week off Daniel Vogelbach received earlier this season. When the DH returned, so did positive results.
“[Pitch recognition is] something that he is capable of being better at and [I] keep thinking with 80 games left, that he’ll revert to that,” said Showalter, who started Jeff McNeil in right field and Luis Guillorme at second base. “The hard contact’s been a challenge.”
The Mets are uncertain about the next step for Jose Quintana, whose fourth rehab start was shorter than the club had desired.
The lefty built up to 63 pitches Friday with Triple-A Syracuse, but in just 2 ²/₃ innings, during which he struggled, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks.
Showalter said Quintana, who had reached four innings in his previous rehab outing, would return to Queens on Saturday or Sunday, and they would discuss whether he needs a fifth rehab start.
Quintana is returning from March bone-graft surgery that was necessitated by a rib fracture.
Pete Alonso, who struggled all June, especially since returning from his wrist injury, showed several signs of frustration Friday.
The star first baseman snapped his bat over a knee after a strikeout, and his eighth-inning error preceded a game-changing, three-run home run as the Mets lost 5-4.
“You keep hoping … that was rock bottom for him,” said Showalter, who added that if Alonso were still bothered by the wrist, the first baseman would not reveal it publicly.
