NEW YORK (AP) — Third baseman Mark Vientos was out of the New York Mets' lineup Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals because of groin discomfort.
Vientos exited Saturday's 3-0 victory over the Cardinals in the fifth, one inning after making a leaping grab to rob Brendan Donovan of a hit.
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FILE - New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil handles a ground out by Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson,File)
FILE - New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez takes a ball during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson,File)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Sunday, April 13, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos hits a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Vientos was feeling a lot better Sunday and didn't rule out using him off the bench.
“Hopefully, he's a player for us. But if not, we'll continue to treat it day by day,” Mendoza said.
Brett Baty started at third in the series finale and went 0 for 3 in New York's 7-4 victory.
The 25-year-old Vientos is batting .167 with two home runs, six RBIs and a .565 OPS. He is 1 for 22 with runners in scoring position, but he went deep on Thursday and Friday for his first two homers of the year.
Vientos had a breakout season in 2024, hitting .266 with 27 homers, 71 RBIs and an .837 OPS. He added five home runs during the playoffs and set a Mets postseason record with 14 RBIs as New York reached the National League Championship Series.
In other injury news, Mendoza said catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil will be at Citi Field on Monday to get evaluated — but “most likely” they will then return to the minors to resume their rehabilitation assignments.
Both players are rehabbing with Double-A Binghamton. Alvarez was the designated hitter Sunday at Reading and finished 1 for 5. McNeil played second base and went 4 for 4, hitting a home run for the second consecutive day.
“We will check with them. Most likely they will continue to get at-bats,” Mendoza said. “I think from Alvy, from the medical standpoint, he's clear. Now it's just, continue to work on his timing and things like that. So maybe a couple of more games in Triple-A, and then we'll see where we're at. And same thing with Jeff.”
New York opens a three-game series Monday night against the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies.
Alvarez has been sidelined since March 9 with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand that required surgery. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks.
McNeil also got hurt during spring training and began the season on the injured list. The two-time All-Star and 2022 major league batting champion is recovering from a low-grade right oblique strain.
Also, right-hander Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation) threw 38 pitches over two innings Saturday in a rehab outing for High-A Brooklyn at Aberdeen. He allowed one run and two hits with two walks.
“The reports from yesterday after he came out, he felt good,” Mendoza said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil handles a ground out by Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson,File)
FILE - New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez takes a ball during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson,File)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Sunday, April 13, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos hits a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Erling Haaland continues to motor along at better than a goal a game for Manchester City in the Premier League.
His latest victim was West Ham on Saturday.
The Norway striker scored in each half to move to 19 goals in 17 matches in this campaign and also set up Tijjani Reijnders' goal in a 3-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The victory lifted City into first place, a point ahead of Arsenal before the deposed leader's match at Everton later Saturday.
Haaland has 38 goals in a combined 28 games for club and country in what is shaping up to be the most prolific season of his career. Injury permitting, the season will end in him going to his first World Cup with Norway.
His double gave him 104 in the Premier League, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo having played 122 games fewer.
Haaland scored at the second attempt from Phil Foden's cross to give City a fifth-minute lead and took advantage of a defensive mix-up to make it 3-0 in the 69th. In between, Haaland slipped a short pass to Reijnders, who took a touch and rifled a shot into the roof of the net in the 38th.
What a difference a week made for Nick Woltemade.
Last weekend, he scored an own-goal to consign Newcastle to a derby loss at fierce rival Sunderland. Six days later, he netted twice in the opening 20 minutes to give his team a fast start against Chelsea.
Chelsea recovered, though, to draw 2-2 with Joao Pedro’s equalizer coming off a rare assist from a goalkeeper.
Robert Sanchez smashed a long clearance up to Pedro, who headed the ball forward and ended up collecting it himself after Fabian Schar slipped. Pedro slotted a finish underneath Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to earn Chelsea a point in the 66th.
“I wanted to give a good performance today and I think I did,” Woltemade said. "I just want to say thank you to the fans for still being good with me.”
Reece James launched Chelsea’s fightback by curling a free kick in off the post after halftime.
Chelsea stayed in fourth place and has won only one of its last five games in the league. Newcastle, one of England's representatives in the Champions League this season, is languishing in midtable after one win in its last four games — and that was against next-to-last Burnley.
Last-placed Wolverhampton remained without a win and on just two points after losing at home to Brentford 2-0.
The latest defeat meant Wolves tied Sheffield United’s 2020-21 record of 17 games without a win from the start of a Premier League season.
Keane Lewis-Potter scored both of Brentford's goals in the second half.
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is reportedly a target of some of the Premier League's biggest teams, including Man City and Manchester United.
He underlined his worth by curling home his team's goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley, which ended its seven-match losing run on its tough return to the top flight. Armando Broja grabbed Burnley's equalizer in the 90th.
Sunderland is doing much better since promotion. A 0-0 draw at Brighton put the north-east team in fifth place.
There are three more games to be played on Saturday: Tottenham vs. Liverpool, followed by Everton vs. Arsenal and Leeds vs. Crystal Palace.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, left, gestures to teammates Manchester City's Rico Lewis, as he celebrates after scoring his sides third goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after missing a chance to score a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade, right, scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Joao Pedro, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
