Juan Soto set to bat second and start DH role as Mets host Astros on 8/29/26

The Mets and Astros meet on 8/29/26 with a lineup feature that stands out immediately for New York: Juan Soto is listed in the designated-hitter spot and will bat second in the order. The move is described as Soto’s return from an IL stint, and it indicates that manager usage will keep him near the heart of the lineup rather than slotting him lower on the card on day one back.

In lineup construction terms, batting Soto second is often about maintaining on-base pressure early in games. The Mets can look to pair him with the leadoff hitter to create frequent plate appearances for the middle of the order, especially in innings where run production depends on turning balls in play into extra bases. Soto’s role as a DH also suggests the club is leaning into the bat-first version of his value for this specific game, keeping his defensive workload aligned with a return-from-IL plan.

From the broadcast side, the game is scheduled for a 4:10 p.m. EDT first pitch. Coverage on the TV side runs through SNY. On radio, Mets fans can follow along via WHSQ 880AM, and streaming options are available through the Audacy app, along with 92.3 HD2, according to the listing associated with the matchup.

For Houston, the key to this matchup is how they manage Soto’s at-bats while also preparing for the Mets’ broader lineup around him. When a high-impact hitter returns and takes a prominent spot in the order, opponents typically adjust their plan on the fly, including sequencing decisions with the bullpen in mind. Even without additional lineup detail here, the second-place slot matters because it determines who gets pitched to most often with men on base and who is presented to the opposing starter’s routine fastball- and breaking-ball counts.

The matchup also carries the typical mid-to-late season MLB stakes for two clubs that can be penciled into the national conversation around playoff positioning. Games like this matter not only for immediate results but for how managers shape late-season habits, including consistent batting order roles and bullpen usage patterns that can carry into October. A return from the IL, in particular, can tighten or loosen those patterns quickly depending on what the club chooses to prioritize.

What to watch next is how long New York keeps Soto in the DH role and whether he maintains the second-place spot throughout the order in subsequent games. If the Mets use this as a transitional game, the lineup could shift again as Soto’s workload increases. If they treat it as a long-term fit, it could permanently reshape the middle-of-the-order plan and how the Astros decide to attack New York’s best hitters. For fans, the simplest way to track that evolution is to compare his batting order placement and defensive role over the next slate of games.