Mets’ Starling Marte set to take next step in rehab process

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Starling Marte is preparing to leave the Mets after Sunday’s game against the Angels, with the idea he will be playing in minor league rehab games at some point next week.

The Mets outfielder indicated he will report to Port St. Lucie on Monday and will stay there to begin his initial wave of rehab games on a day to be determined next week.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Marte must first demonstrate he can run the bases before he returns to game action.

On Friday, Marte hit and ran in the outfield, marking two weeks since he resumed baseball activities following his placement on the injured list on June 25 with a bone bruise in his right knee.

The Mets have mostly used a combination of Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor in right field in Marte’s absence.

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New addition Jesse Winker also has started at the position in recent days.

Marte has struggled defensively this season, but his bat has brought respectable production to the lineup.

In 66 games, he owns a .278/.328/.416 slash line with seven homers and 30 RBIs with 12 stolen bases.

Ronny Mauricio underwent arthroscopic surgery this week to remove scar tissue in his right knee, the team announced.

There previously had been a glimmer of hope (but team officials weren’t counting on it) that Mauricio would return in September following his surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the knee.

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Mauricio, according to the Mets, will still be ready for offseason workouts.

Tylor Megill was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to clear roster space for Paul Blackburn, who t hrew a gem in his Mets’ debut Friday, a 5-1 win over the Angels, following his acquisition from Oakland three days earlier.

Megill pitched two innings in relief Wednesday, but will remain stretched out as a starting pitcher for Syracuse.

“He needs to just continue to build on some of the things he was doing well here, some of the pitches he’s been working on” Mendoza said.

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Sean Reid-Foley pitched in a rehab game for Double-A Binghamton on Friday.

Reed Garrett is expected to pitch Saturday for Binghamton.

Team owner Steve Cohen traveled to Southern California for the series and chatted with president of baseball operations David Stearns before the game.

The Mets’ 49 road games entering play were tied for fewest in the major leagues.

The team will play 10 games on this road trip before starting a nine-game road set in late August against the Padres, Diamondbacks and White Sox.

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