Why Juan Soto was Scratched From the Mets' Lineup

Juan Soto was in the New York Mets' starting lineup on Sunday and then he wasn't.

But don't be too alarmed.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters before the team's series finale with the Miami Marlins that Soto has been scratched due to an illness that's been going around the clubhouse.

Juan Soto was originally in the starting lineup, but Carlos Mendoza said he's been scratched due to illness. Mendoza said that an illness has been making its way through the clubhouse lately. For a team that's been struggling offensively, the timing couldn't be much worse.

— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) May 24, 2026

While it's a relief that Soto isn't injured, his absence couldn't come at a worse time given how badly the Mets' offense has been slumping as of late.

Since scoring 16 runs (10 runs inning in extras) in their victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday, the Mets have scored just 14 runs in their last five games. They've scored just two runs total in their series with the Marlins and will look to avoid getting swept today.

But Soto's bat will be missed. The 27-year-old is slashing .294/.390/.559 with a .949 OPS, 10 home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games. He has also been on fire offensively lately with a .333/.419/.778 slash line and four homers in his last seven games. He has six homers in his last 15 games overall, so it's evident that he has found his power stroke.

Soto missed 15 games earlier in the season due to a calf strain. The Mets' went 3-12 and lost 12 games in a row during that stretch.

The Mets and their $380 million payroll (second highest in MLB) have had an extremely disappointing season in 2026. And just when it looked like they were about to turn a corner with a 5-1 homestand, they have now lost four of their last six games on their road trip and are in danger of getting swept by Miami.

The Mets are 22-30 and in last place in the National League East division. They currently sit 13.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 9:15 AM.