Juan Soto, Max Muncy among NL All-Star starters

Soto drove the Mets offense in this one. His two-run homer – that looked like a cue-shot off the bat – stood as their only run until the ninth inning when Soto singled just before Bo Bichette drove in their third and final run in a late rally that fell short. He also had a demonstrative challenge of a called third strike that was overturned and turned into a walk. He’s had a fantastic season with 18 home runs and a .971 OPS through 69 games despite the Mets’ struggles.

Robert has been on the shelf with a herniated disc in his back since late April. The 28-year-old center fielder’s impending return will complicate New York’s outfield mix, especially since rookie A.J. Ewing has been tearing the cover off the ball recently. The logical move would be to allow Juan Soto to get some extra time at DH with Ewing and fellow rookie Carson Benge in the outfield corners once he’s back. He’ll likely require at least a week or two of minor league at-bats to get back up to speed following the lengthy layoff. The durability concerns aren’t going away, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Robert were an impactful fantasy contributor during the second half based on his raw talent and track record.

Soto drew a walk in the third inning, then singled and scored a run in the sixth. With a runner on in the seventh, he tripled to center field to extend the Mets’ lead before scoring his second run on a sacrifice fly. The 27-year-old star outfielder is hitting .299/.399/.567 with 17 homers, 38 runs scored, 39 RBI, and six steals across 272 plate appearances.

Fortunately for the Mets, their superstar slugger is feeling much improved after a full day of rest. He’s serving as the team’s designated hitter and will bat third against Cubs’ left-hander Matthew Boyd on Thursday night in New York.

The Mets have Francisco Lindor back for the first time since late April. Unfortunately, they’re going to be without Soto in this one. It’ll be Eric Wagaman filling in at DH. The 27-year-old generational talent winds up sitting out both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader with back tightness. It’s impossible to rule out a potential trip to the injured list prior to Thursday’s series finale if Soto isn’t showing improvement. There should be additional clarity on his status following Wednesday’s nightcap against the Cubs.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Soto’s back locked up on him and he left Tuesday’s contest to undergo treatment. It doesn’t sounds like a significant concern for fantasy managers, but back issues can be complex and the Mets can’t really afford to take any chances. It’s possible he’s ready to return at some point during Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs at Citi Field.

Soto looked uncomfortable during each of his at-bats in the early stages of the contest before being replaced by Jared Young in left field to open the fifth inning. He finished 0-for-2 at the plate. The 27-year-old generational talent’s exit appears to be precautionary in nature, but back issues can be complicated matters. He’ll undergo further evaluation and possibly imaging to determine the severity of the issue. There should be an update on his status leading into Wednesday’s doubleheader at Citi Field.

It’s the last thing the Mets need right now. Soto was replaced by Jared Young in left field to open the fifth inning after going 0-for-2 at the plate. It’s a bit unclear whether he suffered an injury or was dealing with a physical issue prior to leaving the contest. There should be some clarity on his status shortly.

Soto got the Mets on the board first with a 386-foot (100.5-mph EV) solo shot off of Aaron Nola in the opening inning. He then replicated the feat in the third inning — that time with a 389-foot (105.0-mph EV) blast. The 27-year-old superstar also drew a walk in the ballgame, finishing the night 2-for-4. For the season, he’s now slashing an outstanding .300/.398/.582 with 17 homers, 38 RBI and six stolen bases on the season.

Soto made a pretty horrible baserunning mistake after doubling in the fifth, freezing on a single behind him as though he was worried about making an out at third. He was waved home anyway and would have been thrown out if Jimmy Crooks hadn’t missed the throw from Nathan Church in center. That run tied the game, and Soto’s solo shot two innings later ended the scoring for the day. He has 14 homers and 31 RBI on the season.