Mets slugger Juan Soto leaves game against Dodgers with left calf soreness and will undergo imaging

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NEW YORK (AP) — Mets slugger Juan Soto was removed from Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of left calf soreness.

Soto has been nursing the injury since returning from the All-Star break last week. He was New York's designated hitter in the opener of a 10-game homestand Friday, but got lifted for pinch-hitter Jorge Polanco leading off the bottom of the sixth inning with the score tied at 1.

Soto is expected to undergo imaging Saturday.

“He just had a reoccurrence of symptoms in the left calf. We certainly hoped we were behind it and done talking about this, but he felt it pushing off going to second base when he was on the bases,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said after his team's 4-2 loss.

"At this point, we’ll likely get an image tomorrow and try to see where he’s at. This has nagged him for a week now. So I know it’s frustrating for him, frustrating for us and everybody.”

Green was asked if he's concerned Soto could land on the injured list again. The five-time All-Star missed about 2 1/2 weeks in April with a right calf strain, and the last-place Mets (43-61) lost 12 consecutive games without him.

“I think any time you get an image, you’re concerned. Concerned enough to do it. We’ll wait until tomorrow and figure out what we’re dealing with,” Green said.

Soto began the night batting .283 with 21 homers, 52 RBIs and a .944 OPS.

Instead of playing left field, he's been the DH in his last two games as he tried to shake the calf problem. He sat out Wednesday's 4-3 loss at Milwaukee but was back in the lineup Friday after the Mets were off Thursday.

Soto walked in both plate appearances against Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki before coming out of the game.

The lone All-Star for the Mets this year, Soto also exited the team's first game after the break in the eighth inning July 16 at Philadelphia. New York was off the following day, and he returned to the lineup as the DH on Saturday and Sunday against the Phillies. He played left field Monday in Milwaukee and was the DH on Tuesday.

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