Mets Notes: Juan Soto good to go, the plan for the backend of the bullpen and CF

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Friday's series opener against the Giants...

Juan Soto in the clear

As expected, Soto is back in the Mets’ lineup for Friday’s series opener. 

The outfielder was listed as day-to-day after suffering a foot contusion earlier this week. 

However, Mendoza told reporters prior to Wednesday’s series finale in San Diego that he was feeling better and was expected to be good to go when the club returned home.   

Now, it is official.

“We knew the other day that we had a player,” the skipper said. “I checked with him yesterday and he had no issues, so he’s good to go.”

That is a huge sigh of relief for the Mets, who could ill-afford to lose Soto for any time. 

The plan for the bullpen 

The Mets have plenty of weapons in their bullpen after their deadline revamp.

All three arms they picked up -- Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley -- come with plenty of experience pitching in the late innings of big ballgames.

Still, the team will lean on All-Star closer Edwin Diaz as their top option. 

That doesn’t come as a surprise with the type of campaign Diaz is putting together, but these three new pieces will allow Mendoza to be a bit more creative with when he decides to use his lockdown reliever. 

“We’ll continue using him the way we’ve been using him,” he said. “If we feel like the best way to deploy him is in the eighth inning we will do it and we’ll figure it out in the ninth, that’s how we’ve been doing it.

“Now figuring out that ninth it could be Helsley, it could be Rogers, it could be a lot of different options -- but in talking to Helsley he’s willing to pitch in any situation needed, he’s here to help us win baseball games.”

The plan in CF

The Mets’ only other addition ahead of the deadline was CF Cedric Mullins. 

Mullins isn’t in the lineup for Friday’s matchup as he arrived at the ballpark a little late, but Mendoza expects that he’ll play a lot down the stretch. 

Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor will still see time out there, but certainly not as much. 

The skipper has seen plenty of Mullins over the years in the AL East, and he says there’s a lot to like.

“Defensively, offensively whether it’s hitting for power or running the bases,” he said. “There’s a lot that doesn’t go into the box score -- running the bases going first to third, getting a bunt down to get a runner over, cutting a ball in the outfield to keep the double play in order.

“Just another really good player we’re adding to a strong position player group.”

Though Taylor will be on the weaker-side of the platoon, he is still expected to be a big piece off the bench. 

“Obviously his time is going to go down a bit,” Mendoza said. “But he could come into the game and get the biggest at-bat, come off the bench to steal a base or for defense, he’s still an important part of this team.”

Francisco Alvarez good to go

Alvarez had a bit of a scare during Wednesday’s finale in San Diego.

The young backstop exited the game after taking a ball off the mask in the bottom of the fifth. 

He did clear concussion protocol, but suffered a head contusion on the play. 

While Alvarez is out of Friday's lineup, Mendoza said he should be a player off the bench. 

The team is just opting to give him an extra day as a precaution.