MIAMI — It is possible and perhaps likely that the Mets lost more than a game Friday.
Brett Baty was lifted before the bottom of the second inning with what the club called right side soreness.
“Oblique area,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the 6-2 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot Park.
Oblique strains are notoriously bothersome to deal with and can take time to heal, and the regular-season timer for the Mets goes off after two games.
Mendoza acknowledged there is a fear that his most typical starting third baseman is out for the season.
“It’s too early,” said Mendoza, with Baty due for tests Saturday. “But just watching the faces he was making — that area right there is tricky.”
Baty felt his side pull upon swinging through a high fastball in the first inning. He remained in the at-bat, grounded out, and took the field for the bottom of the first, which ended with Baty throwing across the diamond to record an out.
Baty grimaced, talked with trainers and Brandon Nimmo, who has dealt with oblique strains, and was removed as Ronny Mauricio took over third base in the bottom of the second.
“I think we’re going to see how it feels [Saturday],” Baty said. “I obviously want to play. … If there’s any possibility of me playing, I’m going to play.”
A loss of Baty would be significant for a team that has barely played Mauricio and has not been able to afford to play Mark Vientos much at third because of his defensive issues.
In what has been a breakthrough season for the former top prospect, Baty has been a solid defender at third and second base and owns a .748 OPS with 18 home runs in 130 games.
The Mets are calling up hard-throwing right-handed reliever Dylan Ross from Triple-A Syracuse, The Post confirmed.
The 25-year-old struck out 80 batters over 54 innings with a 2.17 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across three levels of the minor leagues this year.
He did have issues with control in Syracuse, walking 22 over 32 frames.
Francisco Alvarez was inserted as the DH a day after he was absent from the starting lineup because of concerns that he cramped up behind the plate Wednesday.
The fact the Mets were facing Sandy Alcántara and Mendoza had no intention of starting Vientos or Starling Marte against the former National League Cy Young award winner played into the decision.
“You want to get Alvy’s bat in there and trying keep [Luis] Torrens back behind the plate,” Mendoza said before Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a single.
Such a lineup meant if Mendoza wanted to pinch-hit for Torrens and Alvarez replaced him behind the plate, the Mets would lose the DH for the game’s remainder.
“Understanding that I might be limited with some in-game moves there, but I took my chances today,” said Mendoza, who never replaced Torrens.
Kodai Senga is continuing to play catch in Port St. Lucie, but Mendoza said no decision has been reached on whether there is a next step for the right-hander, who is attempting to show he can still contribute to the club this season following his demotion this month to Triple-A Syracuse.
Tommy John surgery has been recommended for Reed Garrett, who is receiving a second medical opinion, according to Mendoza. The reliever was shut down with elbow inflammation in early September.
Mets owner Steve Cohen traveled to South Florida to attend this weekend’s series. Cohen was with the Mets on the road last year during their playoff run.