New York Mets fans can breathe a little easier after a positive round of injury updates ahead of the weekend series. The club received encouraging news on two key players, with infielder Jorge Polanco avoiding a major scare and superstar Juan Soto's recovery tracking as planned.

For Jorge Polanco, an MRI on Thursday revealed no structural damage to his Achilles, diagnosing the issue as bursitis instead. Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed the veteran remains day-to-day and is not expected to require a trip to the injured list. "It was good for all of us that mentally, now we know what we're dealing with," Mendoza said. The plan is to manage the inflammation with medication and treatment while limiting his defensive workload, though Polanco took swings on Friday and should be available off the bench. The Mets will be hoping this news helps turn around his slow start at the plate.

Meanwhile, Juan Soto's recovery from a calf strain is progressing on schedule. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns reported that Soto is moving around indoors, with the focus on maintaining his conditioning so he can ramp up quickly once fully healed. "We're optimistic this is not going to be a particularly long-term absence right now," Stearns noted, aligning with the original two-to-three week timeline given when Soto was placed on the IL. Getting the slugger's bat back in the lineup as soon as possible remains a top priority for the Mets' offense.

In other roster news, Tommy Pham officially began his rehab assignment in Low-A on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with a single and a run scored. His return adds another layer of depth as the Mets navigate these early-season health challenges.