Escobar will take a seat Wednesday versus the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar will be on the bench for the second time in three games Wednesday after he went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's loss. Luis Guillorme will replace him at third base and bat ninth in the series finale with Milwaukee.

Escobar is absent from the Mets' lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Luis Guillorme will get the start at third base. Escobar is 1-for-16 with seven strikeouts and no walks to start the season. He probably doesn't need to look over his shoulder quite yet, but with Brett Baty off to a nice start with Triple-A Buffalo, Escobar would be wise to pick it up.

Escobar's poor spring, as well as a big performance from Brett Baty, have given the Mets a tough decision to make at third base, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar's 4-for-30 (.133) spring comes with just one extra-base hit, a double, while Baty has raked to the tune of a .325 batting average (13-for-40) with a home run and two stolen bases, although the 23-year-old has struck out 14 times in 50 plate appearances. Escobar remains the favorite to start at the hot corner Opening Day while Baty heads back to Triple-A for more seasoning, but a slow start from the veteran could prompt the Mets to make a quick switch, as there's little margin for error in what should be an ultra-competitive NL East.

Escobar has gone just 2-for-20 at the plate this spring with zero extra-base hits.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran is still penciled in as the Mets' starting third baseman to begin the season, but Escobar hasn't done much in camp to suggest he's going to rebound significantly from the tepid .240/.295/.430 slash line he posted in 2022. If he has another sluggish start at the plate, the door could open for Brett Baty to take the job at the hot corner early in the season.

Escobar was dealing with an off-field family issue last season that impacted his performance, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

"It was really hard," Escobar said this week. "I love baseball and respect my teammates. My problems are my problems. And I try to separate my problems from the job. But it was really hard throughout the season, especially when you're coming to a big team as a new player. It led to trying too much." The 34-year-old still slugged 20 home runs in 2022 for the fifth time in his career, but his .725 OPS was his lowest over a full season since 2016. The issue got dealt with in August, and Escobar's .321/.385/.596 slash line in September and October suggests he regained his focus in spades. He has extra incentive to rebound in 2023 as well -- prospect Brett Baty will be pushing for the starting job at third base this summer, and Mets owner Steve Cohen could potentially pursue free-agent-to-be Manny Machado next winter.

Escobar isn't starting Wednesday against the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar is getting a rare chance to rest during Wednesday's regular-season finale after he went 2-for-12 with a run, an RBI, three walks and five strikeouts over the last four games. Mark Vientos will start at the hot corner and bat seventh.

Escobar went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 victory over the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar put the team on his back Wednesday with a two-run homer off lefty starter Jesus Luzardo in the seventh inning, a two-run single to tie the game in the eighth and a walk-off RBI single in the 10th. The third baseman has accumulated nine multi-hit games in his last 20, including two three-hit games in his last three contests. In addition, the 33-year-old has tallied 11 RBI over his last five games.

Escobar went 1-for-5 with a grand slam and an additional run in a 9-2 win against the Athletics on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar connected on a two-out grand slam in the fifth inning off Oakland starter Cole Irvin and later tacked on New York's final run in the seventh. The long ball is the seventh of September for the 33-year-old who continues to rake with a .329/.388/.671 slash line, 15 runs and 17 RBI in 21 games this month.

Escobar went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar's blast in the second inning was all the offense the Mets needed. He's hit safely in 13 of 16 games in September, going 22-for-56 (.393) with nine extra-base hits, including six homers. The 33-year-old's strong month has restored him to a starting role at third base, and it's lifted his season slash line to .240/.292/.434 through 122 contests. He's added 18 homers, 56 RBI, 54 runs scored and 24 doubles.

Escobar went 3-for-5 with one double, one homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-3 win over the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar gave the Mets the lead with an RBI double in the fourth inning and led off the seventh with a home run off righty reliever Jeff Brigham. The third baseman has been on a great run in his last eight games with a .500 average and 1.496 OPS in 32 plate appearances. After going 18 games without a home run, the 33-year-old has hit four in his last eight games.