The New York Mets will send Juan Soto back to left field Monday night when they open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field.
Soto spent the final two games of the Subway Series as the designated hitter. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday in a 2-0 loss to the Yankees.
The Mets posted their lineup Monday afternoon with Soto batting second and playing left field. Francisco Lindor will lead off at shortstop. Bo Bichette is hitting third at third base.
Carson Benge is in right field. Jared Young is the designated hitter. Marcus Semien is at second base, A.J. Ewing in center, Brett Baty at first base and Francisco Alvarez behind the plate.
Right-hander Jonah Tong will make the start for New York.
The move puts Soto back in the outfield after consecutive days at designated hitter. Monday will be his 57th appearance in left field this season.
He has served as the Mets’ designated hitter in 40 games.
Soto has produced slightly better offensive numbers when he plays the field. He holds a 157 wRC+ in those games compared with a 141 wRC+ as the designated hitter.
Overall, the five-time All-Star is batting .272 with 95 hits, 25 home runs, 10 doubles, two triples, 57 runs, 60 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 98 games. He also has drawn 69 walks and posted a .390 on-base percentage and .527 slugging percentage.
The Mets are 69-80 after dropping two of three to the Yankees. They have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games.
New York remains fifth in the National League East, 18 1/2 games behind Atlanta. The Mets have not been mathematically eliminated from wild-card contention, though the margin is thin with two weeks left in the regular season.
Tong will make his second start of the season and first at Citi Field. In his first start Sept. 7 at Miami, he allowed four runs over five innings, struck out seven and earned the win.
The 23-year-old right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA in 15 innings across four appearances this year.
Baltimore arrives at 72-78 and in last place in the American League East. The Orioles have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games.
Their lineup has Dylan Beavers in left field, Pete Alonso at first base and Gunnar Henderson at shortstop. Coby Mayo is at third, Jackson Holliday at second, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at designated hitter, Heston Kjerstad in right, Colton Cowser in center and Carlos Narvaez catching.
Right-hander Brandon Young (9-4, 3.71 ERA) will start for Baltimore.
Alonso’s return to Citi Field adds a subplot. The former Mets first baseman has 35 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Orioles this season.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
The Mets will look for Soto’s bat to stay in the two-hole while he takes the field again after a quiet Sunday in the Bronx.
