CHICAGO -- In dire need of reinforcements, the Mets’ lineup received more bad news ahead of Friday’s opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Designated hitter/first baseman Jorge Polanco, who has been dealing with left Achilles bursitis since the beginning of the regular season, is now dealing with a right wrist issue. The injury popped up following Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Dodgers, when Polanco went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
The club had not received MRI results by Friday’s first pitch, and no decision regarding placing Polanco on the injured list had been made yet, but his wrist had not improved and kept him out of the lineup.
“Wednesday he came in and didn’t think much of it, but just didn’t get better,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “So we sent him for an MRI yesterday on the off-day here in Chicago, and we’re still waiting. We got multiple people taking a look at him. The [Achilles] is in a better place, but now he’s dealing with a right wrist that is keeping him from at least the lineup today.”
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract this offseason, is slashing .179/.246/.286 in his first 14 games. With injuries to Juan Soto and Jared Young, and struggling hitters such as Francisco Lindor (.576 OPS entering Friday), Bo Bichette (.575 OPS), Marcus Semien (.526) and Brett Baty (.485), Polanco’s position in the heart of the order is crucial as the Mets attempt to break out of their slump.
But resting Polanco so he’s 100% when he does return is also at the forefront of the Mets’ decision-making.
“Before we make that final decision [for the IL], we want to make sure we know what we’re dealing with, especially with the wrist now,” Mendoza said. “But yes, it’s getting to a point now where it’s best for him and the team to let it come down and get him right. We thought he was trending in the right direction with the foot, which he is, but now this came up.”
Polanco’s wrist is the latest hurdle New York will have to overcome as the club looks to break out of an eight-game losing streak during which it scored just 12 runs -- with half of those runs coming against the A’s on Saturday.
The good news is that Soto, who the club had previously targeted for an April 21 return, is still expected to be back when the Mets return home against the Twins. Both president of baseball operations David Stearns and Mendoza said Soto -- who was batting .355 with a homer and two doubles in eight games before his right calf injury -- is still on track in his progression, which would be a huge boost to this lineup.
“[Soto] is getting more live at-bats today,” Mendoza said. “He’s doing high-running intensity, changing directions, doing outfield drills. So everything is trending in the right direction, right? MRI, I got to get with a trainer to make sure we’re going to do another one before we make a decision to activate him, but again, doing a lot of baseball activities back in the field.”
Without Polanco, Mendoza tweaked the lineup Friday to put Carson Benge, the Mets’ No. 1 prospect, in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career in an attempt to spark the offense. Benge had never hit higher than sixth in the order before Friday.
“[Polanco’s injury] is part of why we see a different lineup today,” Mendoza said. “And you don’t have that balance, especially from the left side, talking about a switch-hitter with Jorge. Juan from the left side. JY from the left side. Who you’re facing, how their bullpen is constructed, not trying to give them easy lanes but at the same time trying to get to their starters -- we still got good players here.”