Mets interim manager Andy Green discussed several topics prior to Saturday's game with the Nationals…
Date set for Robert to play a corner outfield Green had stated in the past that the plan is to get Luis Robert Jr. reps in the corner outfield to continue the maturation of A.J. Ewing in center field. After not speaking on it for a few days, Green revealed that Robert will play left field in Sunday's series finale, with Ewing starting in center. "He's still going to play center field. He'll be right back in center in the next series. Those guys will bounce back and forth. In a world where A.J. right now is getting one out of three games in center field, he'll see two out of three games in center. I still hold to the belief we have a strong defense with Ewing in left and Luis in center... but it's good for A.J. in the long term to get extra reps in center." In his seven-year career, Robert has not played a position other than center field. But Green is confident he'll take to left field, and Robert is taking the necessary steps to play it. Robert is spending time before games to work on his positioning, but the Mets skipper ultimately believes that Robert's natural athleticism will serve him well. Not forcing Senga Kodai Senga saved his second career game on Friday night, but the question since the right-hander has taken the role is whether he can be used in back-to-back games. After Senga's first save, the opportunity to use him the next day wasn't there -- although he was available -- but it may be different on Saturday. "Sometimes guys just don't feel the way you expect them to after playing catch, that happens all year long. Assuming he feels good, a back-to-back is imminent. If the situation arises. I don't feel pressed to force it just to say he threw back-to-back in the next 45 days. It's going to happen. If it doesn't happen today or this week, not bothered by it. I'll let the game determine how he's used." Senga threw around 15 pitches but allowed two baserunners in Friday's win, and for a pitcher who threw every six days in Japan and has had ups and downs adjusting to a MLB pitching schedule in his first few years, this is brand new territory for Senga and the Mets. But Green has liked what he's seen from Senga, in his attitude to the role and how he's attacked the new regimen. "His health is very important to us," he said. "There's an inherent risk with pitching in general, but we feel we're doing everything we possibly can to set him up for success in this role." Green later reiterated that Senga's health will determine whether he's available Saturday and there is no rush. "It's all determined on how he feels today. We'll make sure the first time he does it, he's feeling good and wants it," Green said. "If he needs another day, we're equally as comfortable with that."