Iglesias Collects Four Hits in Friday’s Blowout
Jose Iglesias was back in the lineup for a second day in a row on Friday. The Mets were facing left-hander Shota Imanaga, so the move wasn’t peculiar.
The move to pencil in Iglesias proved fruitful for manager Carlos Mendoza. The veteran went 2-for-2 against Imanaga, driving in Mark Vientos in the third inning to extend the Mets’ lead to 7-1. Iglesias, along with the entire offense, ambushed Imanaga the entire day. The lefty was pushed out of the game in the fourth inning, with his ERA rising from 1.89 to 2.96 by the end of the day.
Jun 21, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias (11) hits a single against the New York Mets during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
With Imanaga out of the game, the Cubs called upon their bullpen in the fourth. Hayden Wesneski was the first man up, a righty who primarily throws a sweeper that moves 17.8 inches right to left.
If history was to follow, Mendoza would have pinch Jeff McNeil in Iglesias’s spot in the fourth inning. A lefty to get a better look against the above-average sweeper. But when it was time to make the move, Mendoza stalled. And he was rewarded.
Facing a 1-2 count with McNeil on the bench, Iglesias poked his bat out to drive in two runs. It opened the lead to 11-1, the score the Mets would eventually defeat the Cubs by on Friday. Overall, Iglesias went 4-for-5 on Friday with three RBIs.
Friday was a rare time Mendoza didn’t play the lefty-righty matchup with McNeil and Iglesias. Yet, on a day game at Wrigley, it might have signaled a shift in starters at second base.
O M G
José Iglesias is 3-for-3 with three ribbies! pic.twitter.com/kz55Da3Kw1
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 21, 2024
And the move isn’t shocking to most. Since his promotion, Iglesias is batting .438/.486/.500, with a .986 OPS, including two doubles, 14 home runs, five runs scored, and six RBIs. Over his last seven games, Iglesias is batting .500 with a .563 on-base percentage and is slugging .571.
Jeff McNeil, on the other hand, is only batting .219/.286/.305, with a .591 OPS. That’s a 51-for-233 season-long stretch from the 2022 batting champ.
Still, regardless of past, the Mets need to play for the present. Iglesias has been the better bat, and Mendoza is starting to give the 34-year-old more chances at the plate. After the game, Iglesias spoke with the media after the game and spoke on how he’s seeing the ball and what’s clicking for him at the plate.
“I was just competing every at-bat; I was trying to help the team any way I can,” he said. “We did a great job all around at the plate,” said Iglesias.
If Iglesias continues to pair his hot offense with his smooth defense at second base, a permanent change at second base may follow. McNeil hasn’t had a stretch of success this season, and the Mets are about to pull themselves out the 9-19 hole they dug in May. After a 4-for-5 day at the plate, as well as two singles against right-handers, Iglesias has earned his spot at second.
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