The New York Mets enter the final stretch of a lost season still capable of making life uncomfortable for teams with something to play for.
On Thursday, they opened a four-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies by giving star outfielder Juan Soto a scheduled rest in the field while keeping his bat in the middle of the order, via Underdog MLB.
New York sits at 69-83, fourth in the National League East and 19.5 games out of first. Postseason baseball is already off the table. Philadelphia arrives at 84-68, occupying second place in the division and holding one of the National League’s wild-card spots.
That contrast turns the series into a classic late-September spoiler opportunity for a Mets club that has little left to lose and a Phillies team still jockeying for positioning.
The most notable lineup choice before first pitch was Soto’s assignment. After several consecutive starts in left field, the 27-year-old was listed as the designated hitter.
The move is straightforward load management: keep one of the game’s most productive hitters in the lineup while giving his legs a night off the grass.
Soto has dealt with calf trouble earlier in 2026, an injury that coincided with some of the Mets’ worst stretches. Managers have grown accustomed to mixing defensive days with DH appearances to keep him available through September.
His place in the batting order did not change. Francisco Lindor led off at shortstop, Soto hit second as the DH, and Bo Bichette followed at third base.
The rest of the group featured Carson Benge in right, Jared Young at first, A.J. Ewing in center, Francisco Alvarez behind the plate, Brett Baty at second, and Nick Morabito in left, with Nolan McLean on the mound.
The construction is familiar: two high-on-base threats at the top, Soto’s power and plate discipline immediately behind them.
In 101 games this season, Soto is hitting .271 with 25 home runs and 61 RBIs and an OPS+ of 153. Those numbers arrived despite the earlier calf setback and a year in which the Mets as a whole never found consistent traction. Even on a club well out of contention, his presence remains the clearest reason opposing pitchers have to stay sharp.
A Thursday DH start is not a seismic event. It is, however, the kind of practical decision clubs make when the calendar is short and a franchise player still has work to do.
For a Mets team playing out the string, the priority is simple: keep Soto productive and healthy through the final week and a half while trying to knock a few dents in Philadelphia’s playoff picture.
Whether that effort changes anything in the standings is secondary. The lineup card already showed the organization still treats its highest-paid player as someone worth protecting.
