Winker is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Cardinals on Saturday.
With St. Louis sending southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the mound, Winker will begin Saturday's contest on the bench while Starling Marte serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth. Winker has started the season slashing .184/.238/.368 with six RBI across 42 plate appearances.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Not in Thursday's lineup
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Winker is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker had started two of the last three games against righties, but he'll take a seat Thursday versus right-hander Andre Pallante, who has reverse splits. Starling Marte will be at designated hitter and bat sixth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Bangs out two doubles Wednesday
Rotowire
Winker went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Twins.
The veteran outfielder broke an 0-for-13 skid with the performance. Winker has had a tough beginning to 2025 and missed time over the last week with an illness, but he's capable of heating up quickly if he's healthy. Through 12 games, he's batting .200 (7-for-35) with zero homers, one run and six RBI.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
The veteran slugger returned to the lineup Monday after sitting out a few days due to flu-like symptoms, but he's back on the bench Tuesday despite the fact Minnesota is sending a righty (Bailey Ober) to the mound. Winker isn't reported to be dealing with any further issues, and he could just be getting some extra rest after recovering from the ailment. Starling Marte is receiving another turn at designated hitter in his place.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Back in lineup Monday
Rotowire
Winker (illness) will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Monday's game against the Twins.
Winker hadn't been included in the New York lineup for any of the previous five games while recovering from flu-like symptoms. After checking out fine following a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Athletics and then resting in Sunday's 8-0 win in the series finale, Winker has now been given the green light to make his first start in a week. A healthy Winker should continue to occupy the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter, while Starling Marte draws the majority of the starts versus left-handed pitching.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Battling illness
Rotowire
Winker has been on the bench for five straight games while dealing with flu-like symptoms, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.
The 31-year-old was able to pinch hit Saturday, so the Mets don't seem to be contemplating an IL stint for Winker. He's batting .200 (5-for-25) to begin the season and is still looking for his first home run, but he should return to the strong side of a platoon at DH once healthy.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Losing work to Marte
Rotowire
Winker isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.
Saturday will be the fourth straight game Winker has missed following a 5-for-24 start at the plate. All of his reps have been going to Starling Marte, who will work as New York's DH on Saturday while batting fifth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Riding pine vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.
Winker and his career .667 OPS against left-handed pitchers will stay put in the dugout Friday while JP Sears toes the slab for the A's. Starling Marte will fill in as the Mets' designated hitter and bat fourth.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting again versus righty
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Winker is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Marlins.
This marks Winker's second straight absence from lineup against a right-handed pitcher. Starling Marte reached base three times and drove in two runs Tuesday and will be rewarded with another start at designated hitter in Wednesday's series finale.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Exiting lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.
Though he typically starts against right-handed pitchers like the Marlins' Connor Gillispie, the left-handed-hitting Winker will check out of the lineup Tuesday to open up the designated-hitter role for Starling Marte. Winker has gotten off to a sluggish start to the season, hitting .208 with three extra-base hits (two triples, one double), four RBI and a 3:7 BB:K over 27 plate appearances.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Three extra-base hits in win
Rotowire
Winker went 3-for-4 with a double, two triples and two RBI in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.
Winker's third extra-base hit and second triple of the game was the crucial knock in Saturday's win -- he launched a two-out, two-strike pitch from left-hander Brendon Little off the right-field fence to drive in a pair of runs, tying the game 2-2. Winker is now 5-for-17 (.294) with four RBI to start the year while holding down the strong side of a platoon at DH.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Winker is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
It's right-hander Kevin Gausman on the hill for Toronto, but the left-handed hitting Winker will yield to righty Starling Marte at designated hitter. Winker is off to a 2-for-13 start at the plate this season for the Mets.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting against right-hander
Rotowire
Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Though right-hander Cal Quantrill is on the bump for Miami, the left-handed-hitting Winker will take a seat, despite starting in both of the Mets' previous two matchups with righties. Starling Marte will step in for Winker as the Mets' DH and will handle leadoff duties.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Winker (calf) will serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Winker has been sidelined since exiting Monday's game early due to calf cramps, but the issue seems to have subsided ahead of Thursday's contest. The 31-year-old slashed .253/.360/.405 with 14 homers and 58 RBI in 508 regular-season plate appearances last year and has shown no signs of slowing down this spring, maintaining an .805 OPS through 13 Grapefruit League games.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Nursing calf cramp
Rotowire
Winker exited Monday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Rays due to a calf cramp, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Winker's removal was precautionary, adding that the 31-year-old "should be OK." Winker -- who was retired in his lone plate appearance Monday -- is sporting an .805 OPS this spring and projects to open the season as the Mets' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Re-ups with NYM
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The Mets agreed to terms on a contract with Winker on Thursday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says it's a one-year, $7.5 million deal that could reach $9 million if Winker hits incentives. Winker had a solid bounce-back showing in 2024 between the Nationals and Mets, collecting a .764 OPS with 14 homers and 14 steals during the regular season before adding another long ball and a 1.168 OPS in 10 postseason contests. The 31-year-old should see fairly regular reps against righties between designated hitter and left field.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Back at DH for Game 5
Rotowire
Winker will start at designated hitter and bat fifth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
He sat in favor of J.D. Martinez in Games 3 and 4, but Winker will be back in there Friday as the Mets try to stave off elimination. The 31-year-old is 2-for-7 with a 2:2 BB:K at the plate during the NLCS.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Sitting out again in Game 4
Rotowire
Winker is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers.
J.D. Martinez will receive a second straight start at designated hitter after walking twice and striking out twice in four plate appearances in Game 3. Winker is slashing .267/.476/.600 with one home run this postseason.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Beginning on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Winker is not in the Mets' lineup for Sunday's Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies.
Winker started at DH in Game 1 of the series and went 0-for-1 with two walks before J.D. Martinez pinch hit for him in the eighth inning. Martinez is starting at DH on Sunday as the veterans continue to split time at the position. Sunday will be Martinez's second start at DH in the postseason, while Winker has started three times.
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Mets' Jesse Winker: Absent from Game 2 lineup
Rotowire
Winker is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series in Milwaukee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Winker contributed a two-run triple out of the designated hitter spot for the Mets in Game 1, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench against Brewers righty Frankie Montas. J.D. Martinez will be the DH and bat sixth.
