New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette will be starting his third straight game on the bench on Sunday as they face off against the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field, manager Andy Green said, as the club continues to manage soreness in Bichette’s legs and right ankle.
"It just makes sense with the All-Star break," Green said, explaining the decision to hold Bichette out for a third straight day. Green mentioned that Bichette could still come off the bench as in Saturday's game in the seventh inning.
"We'll see how well he feels, whether he runs the bases or not today," Green said.
The soreness traces back to last weekend's series against the Atlanta Braves, where Bichette went 8-for-18 but fouled several balls off his legs. Since then, he has dealt with soreness in his legs and right ankle.
Bichette sat out Friday and Saturday’s games against the Red Sox before Sunday’s series finale extended the streak to three games. He went 0-for-3 in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Kansas City Royals and is hitting .297 with five RBIs in his last 10 games.
The Mets signed Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract in January to play third base, though he made the majority of his starts at shortstop while teammate Francisco Lindor was recovering from a calf strain. Bichette can opt out of his contract after the first or second year.
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Bichette is not heading to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game, and with the Mets working against the clock in the playoff race, the timing of the break could prove crucial if it allows his legs and ankle to fully recover for the stretch run.
