Why Cedric Mullins was curiously sat by Mets against a lefty

Cedric Mullins did not start against a lefty pitcher on Tuesday, but manager Carlos Mendoza said that will not be the case often.

Mullins arrived from Baltimore at the trade deadline as a peculiarity: A lefty swinger who this season has crushed opposing lefties, against whom he entered play on Tuesday hitting .291 with an .847 OPS.

Yet with Guardians southpaw Logan Allen getting the start on Tuesday, Tyrone Taylor began the game in center field for the eventual 3-2 loss.

The righty-swinging Taylor has not hit anyone well this season and struggled particularly against lefties, entering play Tuesday hitting .167 with a .444 OPS against them.

But no, just because Taylor was playing Tuesday did not indicate that Mendoza is envisioning a platoon in center.

“Cedric will play against lefties,” Mendoza said before the game at Citi Field. “I just thought today, looking what’s ahead and where we’re at, I thought it was a good day for TT.”

After sitting in his first game in Queens for which he arrived shortly before game time, Mullins had played three straight days in center field and was 1-for-12 in his early days as a Met.

Mullins’ ability to hit lefties helped attract the Mets to the Orioles outfielder. The Mets entered play with just a .658 OPS against southpaws, the ninth worst in the majors, and perhaps Mullins can help.

Mullins has hit righties better than lefties for his career, but the veteran’s splits this season have changed.

“He’s been pretty good against lefties,” Mendoza said. “I just thought looking at [Allen’s] splits and pitch shape and all that, I thought today was a good day for TT.”

Mendoza shook up the lineup against the lefty, moving Starling Marte up to leadoff and bumping Brandon Nimmo to fifth.

“I just wanted to give them a different look today,” Mendoza said. “Try to get [Marte] an extra at-bat against the starter, if possible, before they go to the bullpen.”

After Juan Soto’s successful steal in the first inning, the Mets have stolen 32 consecutive bases without being caught, the longest active streak in the majors.

They lead MLB with a 90 percent stolen base rate.