NEW YORK -- With a four-point lead in the big league batting race, Jeff McNeil was not in the New York Mets' starting lineup Wednesday for their regular-season finale against Washington.
Mets manager Buck Showalter said it was his decision to sit McNeil as New York prepped for a wild-card playoff series versus the San Diego Padres that begins Friday night.
"Wouldn't put that on him," Showalter said. "The most important thing is Friday. Everything else takes second."
Showalter, however, acknowledged McNeil could come off the bench if he needed a hit or two to hold off Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman for the National League batting crown.