Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Abreu, struggling in pinch, to DH in Seattle

SAN DIEGO -- The Mets are due to face a left-hander, Roenis Elias, in Monday’s series opener in Seattle. The final two games of the series, though, Terry Collins is planning to use Bobby Abreu as the designated hitter.

The Mets are expected to face right-handers Erasmo Ramirez and Hisashi Iwakuma in those games.

Abreu actually starts Sunday in left field in San Diego -- only his fourth time in the starting lineup since June 26.

Abreu has struggled in his primary role: pinch-hitting. He is 2-for-27 as a pinch hitter this season, including 0-for-his-last-18.

“If you go back in his career, he’s played,” Collins said. “He’s been a guy who is used to getting four at-bats a game. He was never that pinch-hitting guy that sat on the bench and came off the bench. When he went to the American League, they DH’d him and played him in the outfield, and he was a good defender. To be honest, I think he’s still getting his feet wet pinch-hitting once a game, and not doing it for two or three days, and then getting back in there and getting one at-bat.”

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