#Mets hope Brandon Nimmo’s hamstring ‘pinch’ won’t lead to IL stint

The “pinch” Brandon Nimmo felt in his hamstring Friday night kept him out of the lineup Saturday, but the Mets still were hoping it wouldn’t lead to a longer-term absence.

Nimmo made a diving catch in the top of the ninth inning of Friday’s 6-2 loss and it came at a price. After going through a pregame assessment Saturday, the center fielder was not available for the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Reds in 10 innings.

“At one point we thought he could have been [available], but right now we’re going to be cautious with him,” manager Luis Rojas said. “There’s just different things we don’t want him doing, like getting out of the box — all those things where he’s going to push off, which is where he felt the pinch [Friday].”
Rojas was unsure whether Nimmo, after getting treatment Saturday night, would be able to play in Sunday’s series finale.

Nimmo missed two months earlier this season with a hand injury but had delivered a spark atop the lineup upon his return. Kevin Pillar started in center field Saturday and went 0-for-4.

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Right-hander Trevor Williams, who came over from the Cubs in the Javier Baez trade Friday, made his organizational debut Saturday with Triple-A Syracuse. Williams threw six innings and gave up two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Williams had a 5.06 ERA across 12 starts this season for the Cubs and Rojas said the Mets want to keep him stretched out in case they need another starter down the road.

“Is there a chance he comes to our bullpen and be a length guy?” Rojas said. “Yes, he could, but that could disrupt where he is right now pitch-count wise and innings-wise. It’s of more value for him to keep pitching like a starter.”

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Michael Conforto, whose batting average dipped to .199 Friday night after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, was also out of Saturday’s lineup. The lefty hitter was given a day off against Reds lefty Wade Miley, with Brandon Drury starting in right field, but he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and grounded out.

Conforto took early batting practice Saturday afternoon with Baez and J.D. Davis.

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Joey Votto’s streak of homering in seven straight games came to an end — barely. The Reds first baseman nearly tied the MLB record of eight straight games — held by Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly and Dale Long — but his fly ball to right field in the eighth inning hit off the top of the wall for a single.

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Jeff McNeil’s career-high 16-game hitting streak also was snapped after the second baseman went 0-for-3 with a walk.

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To make room for Baez on the roster, LHP Anthony Banda was designated for assignment. … RHP Akeem Bostick was also outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse after being designated for assignment Friday.