Mets player Jorge Polanco was not in Thursday’s lineup as he continues to deal with an Achilles injury. New York is not ruling out that it will select the veteran player, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Polanco was brought in to be the team’s first baseman after that Pete Alonso signed with the Orioles. He started the first two games of the season at the position, but has been assigned to DH since then. Polanco said the pain in his Achilles “it comes and goes,” relayed SNY’s Chelsea Janes. His absence Thursday ended a four-game hitting streak.
Mark Vientos, Brett Batyagain Jared Young they all spent time early this season. I Juan Soto Injuries have opened up some right field spots for Baty, so Vientos has taken a regular job at cold corner recently. The former prospect took full advantage of the increased playing time, slashing .323/.353/.484 in 34 plate appearances. Baty hasn’t done a ton with his chances, but injuries have allowed the Mets to take a long look at both players.
While the defensive system has changed a lot, Mendoza doesn’t plan on fixing the pitching rotation, at least not yet. The captain was asked directly David Peterson after the lefty allowed five earned runs in his second straight start. “As I sit here now, no,” Mendoza said of the personnel change, which was broadcast by Janes.
The Diamondbacks jumped on Peterson on Wednesday, scoring once in the first inning and four more times in the second inning. Peterson had hits in his final three frames, but the Mets offense managed just two runs. Ryne Nelson and the company. The southpaw’s ERA remains above 6.00 through 14 2/3 innings. It’s a continuation of Peterson’s second-half streak in 2025. After earning an All-Star selection, Peterson stumbled to a 7.74 ERA over 10 starts from August on.
The Mets have no replacement for Peterson. Sean Manaea opened the year in the bullpen after serving primarily as a starter the previous two years. His fastball remains below 90 mph, continuing a concerning trend from the spring. Mendoza said the club has no plans to bring Manaea back to the club at the moment.
As Janes points out, prospects are revealing Christian Scott again Jonah Tong It’s been a rough start to the minor league season. Scott was tagged in six earned runs over 8 1/3 innings in two Triple-A starts. The strikeouts have been there for Tong, but he has an ERA over 5.00 in three outings with Syracuse.
On the positive side, on the left AJ Minter threw a scoreless frame in Single-A on Thursday. The assistant is working his way back from a temporary injury. He underwent surgery in May and began the 2026 campaign on the injured list. Going out with St. Lucie was her first play in over a year.
Early projections had Minter returning in May, but he could be back with the Mets before the end of the month. “We started the clock, the repair process now,” Mendoza told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.It will be one of those where if we have to use it every day, we will. But the fact that he is in the real competition is a good sign.”
Minter is in the final season of a two-year, $22MM deal. He started well in 2025 before getting injured. The lefty hit a two-run homer against the Marlins in his second appearance, then hit 11 consecutive scoreless innings. Minter lowered his strikeout rate to 31.8%, his best mark since 2022.
The Mets are counting on it Brooks Raley again Richard Lovelady as their left-arm options with Minter out. Raley is tied for the team lead with two goals. He has struck out seven batters in five games. Lovelady has scored in three of his five games.
Photo courtesy of D. Ross Cameron, Magn Images
