With lead in NL batting race, McNeil sits in Mets’ finale

NEW YORK (AP) — With a four-point lead in the big league batting race, Jeff McNeil was not in the New York Mets’ starting lineup Wednesday for their regular-season finale against Washington.

Mets manager Buck Showalter said it was his decision to sit McNeil as New York prepped for a wild-card playoff series versus the San Diego Padres that begins Friday night.

“Wouldn’t put that on him,” Showalter said. “The most important thing is Friday. Everything else takes second.”

Showalter...