The New York Mets announced their starting lineup for Friday’s home game against the Boston Red Sox, and notably Bo Bichette was left out of the lineup for the first time this season.
Lineup, context and recent form
The Mets entered the series at Citi Field coming off a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. The team’s official lineup released via Underdog MLB listed:
- A. Ewing, CF
- J. Soto, LF
- F. Lindor, SS
- C. Benge, RF
- J. Polanco, DH
- J. Young, 1B
- F. Alvarez, C
- B. Baty, 3B
- Z. Short, 2B
- N. McLean, SP
Managers sometimes give key players scheduled rest around the All-Star break or to manage fatigue and minor nagging issues; the Mets did not offer an immediate public explanation beyond removing Bichette from the starting nine. The two-time All-Star is in his first season with New York and entered the series with the following numbers through 94 games:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Batting average | .256 |
| Hits | 97 |
| Home runs | 10 |
| RBIs | 51 |
| Runs | 48 |
| Stolen bases | 1 |
| Games | 94 |
Fan reaction and immediate outcome
Social media reacted quickly to Bichette’s absence from the lineup. Some fans expressed surprise; others viewed it as routine rotation. One fan post captured the immediate response:
@WardyNYM: “Bichette gets the day off and Short gets the start right away Hate to see that, but hopefully the offense can stay hot tonight I’m expecting a solid pitchers duel between Gray and McLean though”
Despite the lineup moves, the Mets were defeated in the game, dropping the contest 6-2.
What this means for Queens fans
For fans planning to attend games at Citi Field over the weekend, the lineup change is a reminder to check the official game day roster before arriving. Managers frequently rest veteran position players around travel days, slumps or workload concerns; without a formal update from the team on Bichette’s status, the absence should be treated as a routine off day rather than a longer-term issue.
As the Mets proceed through a packed July schedule, keeping an eye on official announcements from the club and pregame reports will provide the clearest picture of whether Bichette’s rest remains temporary.
(Reporting from Queens.)
