From One Injury to Another

New York Mets designated hitter and first baseman Jorge Polanco, already dealing with left Achilles bursitis since the start of the regular season, has now developed a right wrist issue. The injury surfaced following Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers, during which Polanco went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

The club had not received MRI results by Friday's first pitch, and no decision on placing Polanco on the injured list (IL) had been made. His wrist showed no improvement, however, keeping him out of the lineup.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said, "Wednesday he came in and didn't think much of it, but just didn't get better. So we sent him for an MRI yesterday and we're still waiting. The Achilles is in a better place, but now he's dealing with a right wrist that is keeping him out of the lineup today."

Why It Matters

Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million contract this offseason as a cornerstone of the Mets' batting order. Yet through 14 games, he is slashing just .179/.246/.286 — well below expectations.

The problem extends beyond Polanco alone. Juan Soto and Jared Young are both on the IL, while Francisco Lindor (.576 OPS), Bo Bichette (.575 OPS), Marcus Semien (.526), and Brett Baty (.485) are all mired in deep slumps. As a switch-hitter, Polanco's absence significantly disrupts the balance of the lineup.

"Before we make that final IL decision, we want to know what we're dealing with, especially now with the wrist," Mendoza said. "It's getting to a point where it's best for him and the team to let it heal properly."

An Eight-Game Offensive Drought

The wrist issue arrives in the middle of an eight-game losing streak during which the Mets have scored just 12 runs — half of them against the Athletics on Saturday. That pace of scoring is a near-total offensive collapse for a team with playoff aspirations.

With Polanco unavailable on Friday, Mendoza inserted top prospect Carson Benge in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career. Benge had never batted higher than sixth before Friday.

"[Polanco's injury] is part of why we see a different lineup today," Mendoza explained. "Without the left-side balance from Jorge, Juan, and Jared Young, you're limited in how you attack a bullpen. But we still have good players here."

Soto's Return Offers Hope

Amid the gloom, one bright spot remains. Soto — who was batting .355 with a homer and two doubles in eight games before suffering a right calf injury — is still expected to return around April 21 when the Mets host the Twins. Both Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed Soto remains on track.

"He's getting live at-bats, doing high-intensity running and outfield drills — everything is trending in the right direction," Mendoza said, adding that another MRI will be taken before any activation decision is made.

Soto's return could provide an immediate lift to a dormant offense. But if Polanco is formally placed on the IL, the Mets face the compounding challenge of managing an already-thin roster while waiting for multiple key contributors to return.