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Mets’ Carlos Mendoza explains the decision to change the lineup ahead of a must-win game
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Mets’ Carlos Mendoza explains the decision to change the lineup ahead of a must-win game

The Mets’ season is on the line, and if they can’t get a win over the Dodgers in Game 5, their season will end Friday night at Citi Field.

So ahead of the must-win game, manager Carlos Mendoza changed the lineup a bit.

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Jeff McNeil, who is nursing a broken wrist, will be at second base for his first start of the postseason after being named to the NLCS roster. Since then, he pinch hit in Games 1, 3 and 4, going 0-for-3 in those games.

“I’m trying to get a different perspective on our lineup,” Mendoza said of finishing second with McNeil on Friday. “There’s an extra lefty in there today.”

Jesse Winker, who pinch hit for Francisco Alvarez in the eighth inning on Thursday, is back in the lineup at DH. He replaces JD Martinez, who went 0-for-4 in the last two games in this series. Winker advances to hole No. 5, while Starling Marte moves to sixth in the lineup.

Tyrone Taylor, who did not start in Thursday’s loss, is also back in the lineup.

Brandon Nimmo moves up to No. 2 and Mark Vientos moves back to No. 3 in the order.

“(The Dodgers) only have one left-hander out of the bullpen,” Mendoza said of his decision to cut Vientos. “I didn’t want to give them the opportunity to shoot on the left wing when necessary.”

Here is the full lineup for Game 5 of the NLCS:

1. Francisco Lindor – SS

2. Brandon Nimmo – LF

3. Mark Vientos – 3B

4. Pete Alonso – 1B

5. Jesse Winker-DH

6. Starling Marte – RF

7. Tyrone Taylor CF

8. Jeff McNeil – 2B

9. Francisco Alvarez-C