Mj Melendez was out of the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Reds, and Eric Wagaman stepped in as the Mets’ designated hitter, batting seventh.
The move came with Cincinnati starting left-hander Andrew Abbott, making it the second time in the series that Melendez took a seat. Wagaman’s insertion gave the Mets a different look in the middle of the order, but it also left Melendez on the bench again on a day when the matchup was the obvious starting point.
Melendez is a left-handed hitter, which made the choice more notable because he was still out against another lefty. That detail points to a short-term usage pattern rather than a one-off shuffle, especially with the same series already producing another missed start for him.
What remains unclear is whether Wednesday was about rest, matchup management or something else entirely. For now, the immediate answer is simple: Melendez did not play, Wagaman filled in, and the Reds’ left-handed starter was part of the explanation the lineup gave on the day.
