Mets Find Hope Ahead of Game Despite Losing Streak

On Monday, just hours before taking the field to end an 11-game losing streak, the Mets caught a glimpse of hope.

Juan Soto, sidelined since early April, engaged in a series of simulated baserunning drills, dashing from home to first base, then weaving around the bases back to home.

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Soto is expected to return from a right calf strain on Wednesday, even though he faced a minor setback.

As the Mets kicked off their three-game series against the Twins and embarked on a nine-game homestand at Citi Field, there was a sense of relief. The $765 million outfielder, who had been one of the team’s few reliable hitters before his injury in San Francisco, was slated to make his comeback. There are still questions about how to manage his playing time, especially between fielding and designated hitting. But the beleaguered Mets could surely use some uplift, and Soto’s return might be just what they need.

“It definitely helps,” Mendoza commented before the game, “but it’s not fair to rely solely on one player. We have a roster full of good talent, yet they’ve been struggling for a while now. His presence in the lineup is undeniable, but to pin all our hopes on him and say, ‘Now that we have Juan Soto, everything will change,’ isn’t fair to him either.”

Mendoza added, “However, having him back will certainly benefit us.”

Notably, Soto, who participated in 160 games last season, hasn’t played during the current losing streak.

Before his calf injury while running from first to third on April 3, the Mets were hovering around a .500 average. Soto boasted a remarkable .355 average and a .928 OPS. Initially, the Mets managed to cope with his absence, even clinching three consecutive wins. But soon after, the losing streak took hold.

As Monday’s game began, the Mets faced a 62-19 record. Hitting had largely stalled across the lineup, and Soto’s absence left a significant gap.

Even though he was recovering, Soto’s potential return hung in the balance. All he needed was one more day of baseball activities, including hitting, fielding, and baserunning, as the final test.

The Mets opted against rehabilitation assignments, remaining cautious with Soto’s return to prevent a recurrence of his injury. This cautious approach will carry on even after he is officially back on the roster.

“We’ll need to manage his workload,” Mendoza said. “We still need to decide whether he’ll be the DH or play in the outfield. We won’t push him for 18 consecutive innings right away, so he’ll need some downtime too. But hopefully, by Wednesday, having him back in the lineup will mark the start of better things.”

However, the placement of Soto on the field isn’t the most urgent issue for the Mets. They have a high-profile manager and a director of baseball operations whose offseason moves haven’t panned out, leading them to the franchise’s longest losing streak since 2004. Both the rotation and the bullpen are struggling, and the lineup is similarly in turmoil. Everything seems to be aligned against the Mets at the moment.

Still, if they’re to have any hope of salvaging a disappointing season, they need to find a working solution. For now, Soto’s impending return offers a glimmer of optimism.