3 takeaways from the Mets' series vs. the San Francisco Giants
The Mets' Juan Soto hits a single during the eighth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco on Thursday. Credit: AP/Tony Avelar
1. Decision time on Soto
The Mets chose to punt on putting Juan Soto on the injured list over the weekend after a “minor” right calf strain popped up on Saturday’s MRI. But Soto hasn’t done any baseball activity since being removed from Friday’s game in the first inning, and it probably makes more sense now to just backdate an IL stint — making him eligible on April 14 for the Dodgers series in Los Angeles — rather than risk pushing their luck with his calf, an area that can cause bigger problems if not properly dealt with.
It would be surprising if the Mets don’t put Soto on the IL before Tuesday’s series opener against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Then again, the durable Soto is coming off three seasons in which he played 162, 157 and 160 games, so maybe he’ll heal quickly over the next 24 hours or so (unlikely, though).
2. Who’s on first?
Not Jorge Polanco, whom the Mets gave a two-year, $40 million contract last December to learn to play the position as a cheaper alternative to the departed Pete Alonso. Polanco, who got mixed reviews at first base during his spring training audition, didn’t look any more comfortable once the regular season began and hasn’t returned to the position since his last start there on March 28.
The Mets have a built-in alibi for temporarily putting the Polanco first-base project on hold. He recently has been bothered by Achilles discomfort, a good excuse for limiting him to DH duties. Mark Vientos has shined at first in his absence, looking much improved with his glove as well as being dangerous again at the plate. He’s hitting .476 (10-for-21) with a 1.236 OPS in six games.
3. Lindor coming up short
The Mets completely flipped their early-season narrative with the weekend rebound at Oracle Park, but they’re still waiting for Francisco Lindor to join the party. Lindor was a no-show at the plate (0-for-5) during Sunday’s 5-2 comeback victory and is hitting .135 (5-for-37) with two triples and eight strikeouts.
Lindor does have a .342 on-base percentage, thanks to his team-high 10 walks. But he blew a big chance Sunday by grounding out with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning (before Luis Torrens’ pinch-hit two-run double saved the Mets in the eighth).
Lindor is a notoriously slow starter, so this is nothing new, and he did make good on his pledge to return from hamate bone surgery in time for Opening Day. But with Soto’s status questionable, the Mets could use a little more help from their $341 million shortstop.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
