The Mets had at least something go right for them, as Juan Soto avoided the injured list and was back in the lineup for the series finale against the Cubs after exiting Tuesday’s game with back tightness.
Carlos Mendoza hoped pregame that Soto — who also missed time earlier this season with a calf injury — would be able to play, prompting the Mets to release their starting lineup later than expected until they received some clarity.
He hit third and served as the designated hitter, with MJ Melendez in left field.
Mendoza, who didn’t have any clarity on when Soto could return to the outfield, was satisfied that Soto even wanted to play — as opposed to just being available as a pinch-hitter after missing both games Wednesday.
“That’s a good sign,” Mendoza said.
A trip to the IL would’ve been another nightmare for the Mets in a season full of them.
Soto, who entered Thursday’s game with a .299 average, .965 OPS and 17 homers, has been one of the only pieces of their lineup to produce.
Francisco Lindor just returned from his calf strain Wednesday and Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine disc herniation), Jorge Polanco (left Achilles bursitis, right wrist contusion) and Marcus Semien (left hip flexor strain) are all on the injured list.
And the Mets’ hope that Soto was only day-to-day turned out to be accurate.
He avoided another stint on the IL after missing 15 games in April. The Mets, for once, caught an injury break.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
