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The Mets will get an extra bat in the lineup for half of the World Series, and it doesn't even have to come from one of their young pitchers. Utility infielder Kelly Johnson will serve as designated hitter for Game 1 on Tuesday, Terry Collins announced today.
It's a small sample size, but Johnson is 4-for-14 with a double, two RBIs, and three walks in his career against the right-handed Edinson Volquez, Kansas City's Game 1 starter. Johnson hasn't started in the postseason, but he's 1-for-6 off the bench in six games.
After he was acquired by the Mets alongside Juan Uribe before the trade deadline in July, Johnson hit .250/.304/.414 with 5 home runs. For the season, he hit .265/.314/.435 with 14 home runs. And while he hasn't had significant splits against left- or right-handed pitchers in his career, the left-handed-hitting Johnson fared much better against right-handed pitching this year.