Crochet showing leadership by accepting short starts, Sizemore says
BOSTON – Garrett Crochet makes his 29th start against the Red Sox Saturday on FOX, and it won’t be his last.
“As far as I know he's making every start moving forward,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said Friday. “We have no plans to shut him down early.”
Crochet will be on a limited pitch count as he has since the end of June. To make 30-plus starts will be a feather in his cap having never started and coming off Tommy John surgery, even if he’s going three innings.
If he pitches every fifth day, Crochet could make four more starts.
“All the way to the end,” Sizemore said. “It would be good for him, that’s what he wants. It has to be frustrating knowing you’re not going to be able to finish what you started. It’s not easy mentally, knowing you’re going into every game like that. But he’s showing some leadership by just accepting it, not complaining and going out there and competing.”
Crochet (6-10, 3.61) struck out the first seven Mets he faced in his last start Sunday, taking the loss by allowing one run in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out 10 Red Sox and allowed one earned run in a win against Boston at home on June 7.
Lee scratched with back tightness
Catcher Korey Lee was a late scratch after experiencing back tightness in the batting cage, manager Grady Sizemore said, so Chuckie Robinson was the starter Friday.
“We’re being cautious with it,” Sizemore said. “We’re going to give him the day. Get some treatment and see how he feels coming in [Saturday].
Vargas close to return
Third baseman Miguel Vargas, who has a bloodshot right eye from a collision with left fielder Andrew Benintendi Tuesday, took batting practice and ground balls and could be in the lineup Saturday.
Lenyn Sosa played third base with Wednesday call-up Bryan Ramos, a third baseman, on the bench. Sizemore said he doesn’t have a set plan on how the innings will be divided among his multiple third basemen down the stretch.
“Ramos is going to play, mostly at third because that’s where he’s most comfortable,” Sizemore said. “Try to get him in there as much as I can, rotate him with Vargas, get him in there when I can.”
Vargas said he didn’t hear left fielder Andrew Benintendi calling for Eloy Jimenez’ pop-up that fell for three runs Tuesday when he and Benintendi collided.
“Tough, but it should not happen,” Vargas said. “It’s something nobody wants to happen. Took me out for a couple of games. It sucks.”
Vargas’ bat
Vargas was hitting .122 with one homer in 26 games since he was acquired from the Dodgers with two prospects as part of the three-team trade that also cost the Sox Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham.
“I came here trying to help my [new] team,” Vargas said. “It’s kind of sad when I cannot perform as I want to, but my teammates and coaches have been great with me.”
Vargas was 3-for-8 in three games before the collision, finally feeling better at the plate.
“I stuck with my process, stuck with what I’ve been working on in the cage,” he said.
This and that
Sizemore said right-hander Nick Nastrini keeping his turn in the rotation after he walked six Orioles and allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings in his last start Tuesday “is the plan right now. We haven’t made any changes yet.”