Mets Notes: Reason behind Huascar Brazoban's option, Brandon Nimmo's day off

Friday is the second game of the Mets' 10-game road trip, and prior to the contest, they made some moves and the lineup looks a little different than usual.

Manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to the media ahead of Mets-Padres round two to talk about said moves and other topics...

Why Huascar Brazoban was optioned to the minors

Mendoza told the media that the expectation was Dedniel Nunez would be activated from the IL on Friday and that's what happened. Unfortunately for Brazoban, he was the reliever who was optioned to make room for Nunez.

"Not an easy one. We know that’s a really good arm there; 99 with a plus-changeup. Just feel like he’s taking it too hard on himself sometimes. Especially after a bad outing… I told him, he’s going to be a big group moving forward.

"He’s going to go down there, work on the things he needs to be working on and be ready for when we need him back up here. Not an easy one."

Brazoban struggled in Thursday's game, allowing two runs on two hits in the ninth inning of the Mets' 8-3 win. Since arriving to the Mets after a trade with the Marlins in late July, he's struggled. In nine appearances with New York, the right-hander has pitched to a 6.30 ERA -- allowing seven runs in 10 innings -- and a 1.60 WHIP.

Mendoza explained that Brazoban's demotion wasn't solely on Thursday's performance.

"Not so much the performance but how hard he took it, especially after that outing," he said. "It’s more of a rest for him. Stuff-wise, he’s really good."

Brandon Nimmo's day off

With the number of outfielders the Mets have, Friday is Nimmo's night to ride the pine. Starling Marte, Jeff McNeil and Harrison Bader will man the outfield and Mendoza assured the media that Nimmo was doing well physically.

"Just a day. Part of what we have going here," Mendoza explained. "Told him today was a good day to have him down and he’ll be ready to go."

Like Bader on Thursday, the rotation of outfielders Mendoza and the Mets deploy will depend on matchups and other factors.

Nimmo is 0-for-12 in his career against Friday's starter, Joe Musgrove.

Mark Vientos' improving defense

Vientos has continued to impact the Mets' season with his bat but his defense at third base has improved.

Mendoza says that Vientos has been "really good" at third base and continues to make progress at third base.

"The biggest thing for me is how engaged he is pitch-to-pitch," Mendoza explained. "He's into it, he's talking to [third base coach Mike Sarbaugh], [Francisco] Lindor in different game situations and that's what you want especially from a young player, to continue to learn the game itself."

It was brought up to Mendoza that his biggest criticism of Vientos' defense before he was optioned to the minors in late April was his pre-pitch-ready position, something that the Mets skipper has improved 100 percent.

"He knows it and you got to give him and [Sarbaugh] credit. They've been working hard," Mendoza said. "It's not easy to do it for 200 pitches every day but that's what takes to be a plus-defender at this level. You have to be engaged, you have to be ready for every pitch and he's done that."