PHILADELPHIA — Juan Soto’s precautionary placement into the DH spot for the past two games left the Mets without a spot for one of their key offseason additions.
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Such is the predicament team officials face on a daily basis trying to keep Jorge Polanco in the lineup.
Polanco is limited to DH duty in his return from the injured list and likely won’t be considered for first base action until at least next month.
Soto left Thursday’s game with calf discomfort, and the Mets weren’t about to push him to play left field Saturday and 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 over the Phillies. “We would have liked to get [Polanco] back in the lineup today, but this is more about just ensuring this is behind [Soto].”
Polanco is 3-for-21 (.143) in six games since returning from the IL.
Juan Soto hits a single during the Mets’ July 19 win against the Phillies. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Jorge Polanco reacts during the Mets’ July 12 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Luis Robert Jr. is expected to rejoin the Mets at some point during the next series (the Mets are in Milwaukee for three games), according to Green.
The outfielder has spent the last 2 ½ months rehabbing a lumbar spine disc herniation.
He will be returning from the 60-day injured list.
Clay Holmes is on track to pitch in a minor league rehab game later in the week.
Holmes threw 45 pitches in a simulated game Saturday after his scheduled rehab start for Single-A Brooklyn was canceled due to rain.
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Holmes has spent two months rehabbing a broken right fibula.
The series victory was the Mets’ first at Citizens Bank Park since August 2022, when they won three of four games against the Phillies.
The Mets won their first road series since June 7 in San Diego.
A.J. Minter allowed a seventh-inning homer to Alec Bohm, giving the left-hander a second appearance in his past three in which he surrendered at least one run.
Minter has allowed a homer in three of his past six appearances after starting the season with 14 straight appearances without one allowed.
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