The article takes a look at Juan Soto’s expected return from the injured list for the New York Mets. It dives into how the team will manage his comeback in the short term, and what this means for a club stuck in an 11-game losing streak.
It also touches on the Mets’ offensive drought, the supporting cast’s struggles, and a rotation change that could shake things up. Soto is in the second year of a wild 15-year, $765 million contract. His health feels pivotal right now, as New York scrambles to stop the bleeding and get a star bat back into a lineup that’s just not clicking.
Soto’s return and lineup plan
Juan Soto should come off the injured list on Wednesday. The Mets hope his return can jolt a lineup that’s been flat for weeks.
In his first two games back, he’ll split time between designated hitter and left field. They won’t use him on back-to-back days in the outfield.
This setup gives Soto a chance to ease in while the Mets keep an eye on his left quad—the same injury that sent him to the IL in the first place.
Before the injury, Soto got off to a hot start in eight games, hitting .355 with one homer and five RBIs. He strained his quad sprinting from first to third on a Bo Bichette hit, his first IL stint since a 2021 shoulder issue.
Honestly, the timing couldn’t be worse for the Mets. The team’s playoff hopes were already fading, and confidence in the lineup has nosedived.
Positioning and expectations
Manager Carlos Mendoza says Soto’s return is a boost, but he doesn’t want the team to think one player can save everything. Soto should bring some energy, but the Mets need more from the whole lineup, bullpen, and rotation.
Easing Soto back in feels like the smart call. Nobody wants to risk a setback by rushing him. It’s a balancing act between getting his bat back and keeping him healthy.
Mets’ skid and offensive drought
Going into Tuesday, New York had dropped 11 straight games. That’s their longest losing streak since 2004.
The Mets have been outscored 62-19 during this stretch. As a team, they’re hitting just .200.
They’ve been shut out three times and have scored two runs or fewer in six other games. Every part of the roster feels the pressure—lineup, bullpen, rotation, you name it.
There are a couple of bright spots, though. Only Francisco Alvarez and Luis Robert Jr. are batting better than .250 with more than 50 plate appearances. That’s not much, but it’s something.
Meanwhile, veterans Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, and Bo Bichette are hitting a combined .218 in 257 at-bats, with 58 strikeouts. The struggle goes way beyond just missing Soto.
- Francisco Alvarez and Luis Robert Jr. are among the few Mets hitters above .250 with significant plate appearances.
- The trio of Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, and Bo Bichette have combined for a low batting average and a high strikeout rate, highlighting gaps in production beyond Soto.
Rotation shake-up and schedule
The Mets might get another boost in the rotation on Thursday. Christian Scott is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to start against the Minnesota Twins after coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Scott’s numbers so far: 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA in limited action, 17 strikeouts, and two walks across 13⅔ innings. He’ll take Kodai Senga’s spot in the rotation, pushing Senga back to Saturday.
This move is a shot at steadying the rotation while Soto works his way back. The Mets are still figuring out how to get more from the top of the order—and, honestly, from everyone else too.
Implications for the Mets’ short-term outlook
The Mets are in a weird spot. Soto’s return, the push for better offense, and changes in the rotation all feel like a necessary—if slightly desperate—pivot for a team chasing wins in a jam-packed NL East.
If Soto finds even a bit of his early-season groove, and the offense bumps up to something close to league-average, maybe the Mets can steady themselves. That’s a lot of “ifs,” though.
Right now, it all hinges on Soto’s health, some help from the supporting cast, and whether Scott can bring any real consistency to a pitching staff that’s honestly been pretty unpredictable.
Here is the source article for this story: Sources: Mets’ Juan Soto to return to lineup Wednesday
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