Mets Make Cedric Mullins Decision Before Phillies Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 3:22 PM ET

The New York Mets are entering a crucial series on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, with an opportunity to regain ground in the NL East as time runs out for a potential division title run.

The Mets now sit seven games back after dropping the series finale on Sunday against the Braves by a final score of 4–3.

Trade deadline acquisition Cedric Mullins failed to catch a fly ball in the bottom of the eighth inning, allowing Jurickson Profar to drive in the game-winning runs.

The play highlighted a questionable defensive alignment decision by manager Carlos Mendoza, who placed Mullins in center field—his preferred spot—and shifted defensive specialist Tyrone Taylor to left, despite Taylor being more effective in center.

Mets Remove Cedric Mullins From Lineup

Ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Phillies, the Mets opted to bench Mullins and start Taylor in center field.

Although Philadelphia is starting left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, Mullins actually has reverse platoon splits, performing better against southpaws than right-handers—making this a clear benching for defensive reasons.

Series opener. #LGM pic.twitter.com/2vYr9Pzh5b
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 25, 2025

Mullins’ Defensive Struggles Could Keep Him Out of Mets’ Lineup

With October approaching and the Mets fighting to secure a postseason spot, defensive miscues could prove costly.

By the DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) metric which attempts to quantify a player’s defensive value, Mullins has struggled in center field with a -17 rating, while Taylor has excelled with +8—making him the clear superior option defensively.

Offensively, Mullins has been productive, posting a .232 batting average, .311 on-base percentage, .735 OPS, and 16 home runs. Taylor, meanwhile, has struggled against big-league pitching, making the decision a trade-off between defense and offensive upside.

If Mullins were willing to transition to a corner outfield spot, the Mets could potentially keep both players in the lineup and maximize their value. However, that’s not the case on Monday, as Mullins will ride the bench in a pivotal matchup.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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