Mets place Soto at designated hitter, leave Polanco out of lineup

Juan Soto’s placement at designated hitter for the past two games has left the Mets without a roster spot for Jorge Polanco. Team officials said they are managing daily lineup decisions to keep Polanco active while he recovers. Polanco is restricted to designated hitter duty and is not expected to play first base until at least next month.

calf discomfort Soto left Thursday’s game with calf discomfort.

Officials chose not to have him play left field on Saturday or Sunday. “We just want to ensure he’s not carrying it with him past these couple of games,” interim manager Andy Green said before the Mets’ 6-1 victory. ” Polanco is 3-for-21 in six games since returning from the injured list.

roster moves Luis Robert Jr. is expected to rejoin the team during the next series after spending the last 2½ months rehabbing a lumbar spine disc herniation. He will return from the 60-day injured list. Clay Holmes is scheduled to pitch in a minor league rehab game later this week.

Holmes threw 45 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday after his scheduled start was canceled due to rain. Holmes has spent two months rehabbing a broken right fibula. The Mets recorded their first road series win since June 7 and their first series victory at the current venue since August 2022.

A.J. Minter allowed a seventh-inning home run, marking the second time in his last three appearances he has given up at least one run.