Bader is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Bader will likely be back in the starting nine for the second game of the twin bill, but he'll cede center field to Tyrone Taylor in the first game of the day.

Bader is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bader started the first two games of the season but will head to the bench Sunday after going 1-for-7 with two strikeouts. Tyrone Taylor will take over in center field and bat eighth.

Bader has hit .241 (7-for-29) this spring with two homers, two steals and a 3:4 BB:K.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old is locked in as the Mets' starting center fielder after signing a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the club in January. Bader stole a career-high 20 bases in 2023 in only 98 games split between the Yankees and Reds, but he slashed only .232/.274/.348. He's expected to hit in the bottom half of the order for the Mets, muting his fantasy appeal further.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Bader (groin) will serve as the Mets' everyday center fielder this season, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brandon Nimmo has seen the bulk of the starts in center field for the Mets in each of the past four seasons, but he's graded out as an average-to-below-average defender in most of those years and will shift to left field to make room for Bader, who should represent a notable upgrade with the glove. Durability hasn't been a strong suit for Bader in recent seasons, however, and even when healthy, he's taken a step backward at the plate since his last full campaign with St. Louis in 2021. In the ensuing two seasons, Bader has cobbled together an underwhelming .251/.299/.393 slash line (89 wRC+) over 1,058 plate appearances with three different teams. His defense and $10.5 million salary should keep Bader's playing time secure in his first season with the Mets, but expect him to bat near the bottom of the lineup and provide most of his fantasy value in the steals category, after he pilfered a career-high 20 bags in 2023 despite playing in only 98 games. The 29-year-old underwent surgery at the end of last season to address a groin strain suffered in September, but he said Monday that he will "absolutely" be ready for Opening Day, even if the Mets elect to ease him along slowly in camp, according to Tim Healey of Newsday.

Bader signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Mets on Thursday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bader has slashed just .241/.284/.352 over 657 plate appearances since the start of the 2022 campaign but remains one of the premier center field defenders in the game. The 29-year-old should see the bulk of the starts in center for the Mets, allowing Brandon Nimmo to shift to left field. Nimmo is expected to still play some center versus righties, which would likely mean DJ Stewart in left those days. Bader also provides some protection in the event Starling Marte gets hurt again, although Bader has been pretty brittle himself.

Bader (groin) will not return this season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bader hit the injured list with a groin strain Monday, and the injury is evidently serious enough that he won't play again this season even if the Reds make a playoff run. He recorded a .429 OPS in 14 games with Cincinnati after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees, meaning he'll head into free agency having hit just .232/.274/.348 in his walk year.

Bader was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right groin strain.

EDGE Analysis

Bader suffered the injury during Sunday's loss to the Mets and will be sidelined for at least the next week and a half. He will be eligible for activation during the Reds' final series of the regular season, although it remains to be seen whether he will be ready at that time.

Bader is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Bader was added to the lineup Tuesday versus a right-hander after Hunter Renfroe (hamstring) had to be scratched, but the 29-year-old went 0-for-4 and will head back to the bench Wednesday even as Renfroe remains sidelined. Bader should continue to draw most of his starts against southpaws. It'll be another righty in Logan Gilbert taking the mound for Seattle on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park.

Bader was added to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Bader will start in center field and bat seventh versus the Mariners and right-hander Bryce Miller after Hunter Renfroe was scratched due to left hamstring tightness. Bader has primarily played against left-handed pitching opponents since the Reds claimed him off waivers from the Yankees on Aug. 31.

Bader entered as a pinch runner, stole a base and scored a run in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Bader ran for Jake Fraley, who led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double, then Bader stole third before coming home with the game-tying run on an Elly De La Cruz base hit. The steal was the 18th for Bader, who's notched double-digit thefts in four of the last five full MLB seasons. He's made two appearances -- one start in Saturday's doubleheader -- since being claimed off waivers from the Yankees and is expected to provide depth for the new club.