LISTEN: Keith Hernandez Tells WFAN That Mets Will Dearly Miss Wilmer Flores In Playoffs
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- The Mets have obviously endured their share of injuries en route to earning a wild card spot this season. But SNY's Keith Hernandez said one player they're especially going to miss Wednesday night and beyond, if they get that far, is infielder Wilmer Flores.
On Wednesday night, the Mets are hosting the Giants, who will start left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner. Before he suffered a season-ending wrist injury, Flores was crushing left-handed pitching -- a .340 average with 11 home runs.
MORE: Palladino: Mets Can Feel Good About Themselves Only With A Win
"Wilmer is what he is, but doggone it, he hits left-handers, and he hits them with power," Hernandez said on Mike Francesa's WFAN show Wednesday. "That's really hurt the club. It's weakened them bench-wise. It's weakened them as far as a platoon. That injury has really hurt going forward. And it's not just Bumgarner. It's going to be going forward against (the Cubs' Jon) Lester. You're going to face the very best.
"Mets are definitely up against it when they're going to be playing against left-handers," the former Mets All-Star first baseman added. "There's no doubt about it."
Francesa asked Hernandez to pick a Met whom he though might come up with a clutch hit against the Giants.
"I think right now it would have to be (Asdrubal) Cabrera, but by the same token ... I have seen (Yoenis) Cespedes get up to the plate and go the other way when a base hit's needed and they play that shift defense on him and they leave that right side of the field open, and I see him go to right-center field," Hernandez said. "He's a very smart hitter."
MORE: 7 Most Memorable Mets Postseason Performances
The Mets will start Noah Syndergaard on Wednesday night. Hernandez said the Giants will likely test him on the base path.
"He is a guy that's not flustered," Hernandez said of Syndergaard. "What worries me ... the Giants have a lot of speed. And if they get on base, they're going to run. He's going to have to hold them on."
Hernandez said he wonders if Syndergaard's rhythm might be disrupted if he has to throw over to first base three or four times.
"You can throw a pitcher off his rhythm without stealing a base," Hernandez said.
To listen to the full interview, click on the audio player above.
