Moving off the bench to make an impact as a starter is no easy feat, but Juan Lagares has shown the Mets how it can be done.
Outfield uncertainty threatened to derail the Mets’ pursuit of an NL wild-card spot after Jeff McNeil was forced to the injured list with a hamstring injury last week, joining Dominic Smith, who landed there with a foot injury at the end of July. Lagares, however, has filled the void with nine straight starts in center field — including Thursday’s rain-shortened, 2-0 win over the Indians — with his performance at the plate equaling his rediscovered stellar play in the outfield.