Starling Marte progresses in rehab with Mets

Starling Marte, the New York Mets outfielder, completed his second consecutive full game with Triple-A Syracuse as part of his rehab assignment, finishing 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. Marte is recovering from a right knee bone bruise and is anticipated to return to Citi Field on Saturday, with a potential activation set for Sunday. The Mets face a decision on how to utilize the 35-year-old, who had a solid .745 OPS before his injury but struggled defensively in right field. Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged Marte's importance to the team, stating, “He’s a big part of this ballclub. We’re going to need him, and we’re going to need all of those guys. I’ll mix and match.” With Daniel Martinez serving as the everyday designated hitter and Jesse Winker added to the roster to face right-handed pitchers, Marte may find himself primarily used against lefties, although Mendoza did not label him strictly as a platoon player. In other news, Mets' executive David Stearns addressed a recent ESPN report suggesting a potential rule change requiring starting pitchers to complete a minimum of six innings per game. Stearns expressed support for discussions aimed at enhancing the role of starting pitchers while also addressing injury concerns. However, he cautioned that implementing such a significant rule change is still a long way off. The Mets recently secured a 7-3 victory over the Marlins, further solidifying their position as they await Marte's return.