The New York Mets took a tough hit on Sunday, and it wasn’t just the 6-5 loss to the Cardinals in a doubleheader opener at Busch Stadium. Outfielder Jesse Winker, making a rare start in left field, felt a twinge in his right side after a throw in the third inning, and by the fourth, he was done for the day. An MRI confirmed the bad news: oblique damage, with more tests awaiting in New York on Monday. The 10-day injured list is a lock, and with oblique injuries being as tricky as a knuckleball, Winker’s season could be in for a bumpy ride. Let’s break down what happened, what it means for the Mets, and why Winker’s absence—however long it lasts—will leave a void in Queens.
It all went down in the third inning, with the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan tagging up on a sacrifice fly. Winker, stationed in left, uncorked a throw to home, trying to nail Donovan at the plate. The ball didn’t quite get there, and Winker knew something was wrong the second he let it fly. “I felt it pretty much right when I threw the ball,” he told reporters, including MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, after the game. He gutted it out for the rest of the inning, but when the Mets took the field in the fourth, Winker was gone, replaced by a pinch-runner. That kind of exit—quiet, sudden—tells you it’s serious. Obliques don’t mess around; even a minor strain can sideline a player for weeks, and a bad one could keep Winker out for months or worse, put a fork in his 2025 campaign.
Sunday’s start in left was a rarity for Winker, who’s been primarily a designated hitter this season. In 24 appearances, he’s only played the field twice, with the doubleheader forcing the Mets to stretch their roster thin. Winker in left and Starling Marte in right—his first outfield appearance of 2025 in the nightcap—were moves born of necessity, not strategy. It’s a cruel twist that Winker’s injury came in such a spot, a reminder of how quickly baseball can turn a routine play into a gut-punch. The guy’s been a pro, taking on whatever role the Mets need, and to see him go down like this feels like a bad break for a team already battling to stay in the NL East race.
Winker’s numbers this year—.239/.321/.418, with a 104 wRC+ over 78 plate appearances—won’t make you jump out of your seat, but they don’t tell the whole story. Since joining the Mets from the Nationals at last year’s trade deadline, Winker’s been a spark plug. He hit .265 with a .798 OPS down the stretch in 2024, then turned into a postseason beast, rocking a 1.168 OPS over 32 plate appearances during New York’s playoff run. That’s the kind of clutch bat you want in October, and it’s why the Mets brought him back on a one-year, $7.5 million deal. His left-handed swing, with its smooth stroke and knack for finding gaps, has been a perfect fit in a lineup that leans heavily on righties like Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. Losing that balance, even temporarily, is a blow.
The Mets’ DH spot, where Winker’s split time with Marte in a lefty-righty platoon, now looks like a puzzle. Without Winker, manager Carlos Mendoza could cycle through a mix of internal options. Triple-A Syracuse has left-handed hitters like Jared Young, Jon Singleton, Rafael Ortega, Donovan Walton, and Billy McKinney waiting in the wings. Young’s the only one on the 40-man roster, but the Mets could free up a spot by shifting outfielder Jose Siri, who’s recovering from a wrist injury, to the 60-day IL. None of these guys are Winker, though. His veteran savvy and postseason pedigree—remember that bases-clearing double in the NLCS last year?—can’t be replicated by a call-up. Fans on X are already feeling the pinch, with one lamenting, “Winker was our glue guy off the bench, this hurts.”
What’s next for Winker and the Mets? Monday’s tests in New York will shed light on the injury’s severity. A mild strain might mean a 2-4 week absence, but a more serious tear could sideline him into the summer or beyond. Obliques are brutal for hitters—every swing, every throw twists that muscle, making it tough to rush back. Winker’s no stranger to adversity; he battled a back injury in 2023 with the Brewers and still posted a .360 OBP. His postgame comments, calm but honest, showed a guy who’s been here before: “It’s part of the game. You just keep moving forward.” That’s the mindset Mets fans love, the kind of grit that’s carried this team through a 20-16 start despite a shaky bullpen and injuries to key arms like Kodai Senga.
For now, the Mets head to Phoenix to face the Diamondbacks, and they’ll need to lean on their depth. Lindor’s MVP-caliber play and Alonso’s power will keep the lineup humming, but Winker’s absence leaves a hole in the middle order. Marte, who’s been solid at DH, might see more time in the field, and youngsters like J.D. Martinez could get a longer look. The front office, led by David Stearns, has a knack for finding diamonds in the rough, so don’t be surprised if they make a sneaky move to bolster the roster. Still, you can’t help but feel for Winker—a guy who’s fought for every at-bat, only to get derailed by a fluke injury in a game he wasn’t even supposed to play the field.
Mets fans, keep the faith. Winker’s down, but he’s not out. The guy who lit up October last year has the heart to bounce back, and when he does, that left-handed swing will be terrorizing pitchers again. For now, it’s next man up in Queens, but don’t count out Jesse Winker making this just a plot twist in a season that’s still got plenty of chapters left. Get well soon, Jesse.
