The Mets had to think rookie slugger Pete Alonso was pretty gassed to take him out of the lineup Friday night against one of the top left-handed starters in baseball, Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers.
“He’s totally fine. We just all felt like he needed an off-day,” Callaway said about not starting Alonso, who pinch-hit for Juan Lagares in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 9-2 loss to the Dodgers and stayed in the game at first. “Talking to everybody, just seeing Pete for the last few days, I think an off-day’s warranted for him.
“I think he’s played more games than any rookie, more games than most players.