MILWAUKEE — Jorge Polanco still aspires to be the regular Mets first baseman.
To that end, the veteran infielder told The Post before the 4-3 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday that he plans to begin taking grounders next week to build up toward playing the position.
Polanco has served almost exclusively as a DH this season in his limited availability due to ankle discomfort.
Polanco said he hasn’t worked at first base for several weeks — he had a setback during his minor league rehab assignment and was limited to hitting.
Polanco, who arrived on a two-year contract worth $40 million, was signed under the premise that he would be the team’s starting first baseman.
He has played only two games at the position.
But Polanco said he doesn’t feel as if he will be learning first base all over again.
“I feel better than when I first started taking ground balls at first base [in spring training],” he said. “When I come back I just have to put the work in and I just want to stay positive that everything is going to work fine.”
Juan Soto received a day off (and wasn’t even considered for pinch hitting, allowing him a full 48 hours between games). Interim manager Andy Green cited Soto’s recent work schedule, which included representing the National League in last week’s All-Star Game.
Soto also had calf discomfort in the first game back after the All-Star break.
“It hasn’t completely abated at this point in time, but it’s not something that is inhibiting him,” Green said. “We are getting him right back out there [Friday].”
Polanco started at DH, with Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Brett Baty in the outfield. Green said Luis Robert Jr. wasn’t an option to play a third straight game in the outfield following his return from the injured list.
Clay Holmes is scheduled to pitch three innings in a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
It will be the first rehab start for Holmes since he was placed on the injured list in May with a fractured right fibula.
He threw 45 pitches in a simulated game Saturday.
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Ewing went 2-for-4, giving him a hit in 11 of his past 14 games. Over that stretch, he owns a .317/.359/.533 slash line with three homers and six RBIs.
The Mets are 7-18 against the NL Central this season.
