Jeff McNeil out of Mets lineup while dealing with shoulder discomfort ‘big time’

WASHINGTON — Jeff McNeil’s right shoulder has been barking for the past week, and Thursday the discomfort finally pushed him to the bench.

The second baseman was absent from the starting lineup on a day the Mets were without Brandon Nimmo (who is dealing with neck stiffness).

McNeil, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, has experienced discomfort on throws.

“It doesn’t bother him to swing the bat; it’s just more of the throwing,” Mendoza said before the Mets lost 9-3 to the Nationals.

Brett Baty started at second base, with Tyrone Taylor in left field.

Mendoza indicated McNeil hasn’t been a candidate to start in the outfield lately because of the throwing aspect.

On this day, he struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and then moved to left field for the bottom of the frame.

McNeil started at DH in consecutive games last weekend, according to Mendoza, because of the shoulder issue.

“He’s feeling it big time,” Mendoza said. “We don’t think it’s serious or anything like that. We’re not planning on taking imaging. We are going to put him on medicine, and hopefully it will calm down.”

McNeil has been among the team’s hot hitters, taking a 9-for-21 (.429) stretch into the day.

Ryne Stanek’s days appear numbered after he surrendered four runs in the eighth inning.

The right-hander owns a 5.65 ERA in 50 appearances this season.

In seven August appearances, he’s got an 18.56 ERA.

Mendoza was asked if Stanek’s roster spot was in jeopardy.

“We just got done with the game,” Mendoza said. “But this is a guy that has been here the whole year and was big for us last year, and it’s been a struggle for him. He needs to be better. We have to continue to work with him.”

Nimmo’s neck wasn’t showing improvement, according to Mendoza, a day after he was removed from the game in the second inning with stiffness.

Nimmo has dealt with periodic stretches of neck stiffness in recent seasons.

Hayden Senger received the start behind the plate, but Mendoza said Luis Torrens was fine after getting clipped on the left hand (for a catcher’s interference) a night earlier.

Baty singled in his first at-bat, extending his on-base streak to nine straight games.

Baty entered the day with a .488 on-base percentage during his streak, which included two monstrous home runs in this series.

Paul Blackburn, who was released by the Mets this week, signed with the Yankees.