Juan Soto (calf) expects to return this season

Soto hit the injured list with a Grade 2 left calf strain back in late July and told reporters that he expects to play again this season. The fact that he’s progressed to on-field running just a few weeks later seems to back up that initial optimism. The 27-year-old generational talent still needs to ramp up a hitting progression, and will likely require a brief minor league rehab assignment, before he’s ready to return to New York. There should be a more definitive return timetable at some point in the coming weeks.

No surprise after Benge suffered a left wrist injury on a collision with the left-field wall while making a sliding catch during Friday’s contest. The positive news for the Mets, and fantasy managers, is that initial X-rays came back negative for any fractures, and the Mets are currently calling it a bone bruise. It sounds like he could be back by the middle of next week. It’ll be fellow rookie A.J. Ewing taking over in left field with Luis Robert Jr. patrolling center field and Brett Baty in the opposite corner.

Ewing continues to produce out of the lead-off spot in their order. Along with the three hits, he was hit by a pitch as well and reached base four total times. His stolen base was also his 15th on the season and after a bit of an inefficient start on the base paths, he’s now successfully stolen seven in a row since the last time he was caught on June 29th. Those plus his .266 batting average, seven home runs, and standout defense in center field have made Ewing a very useful player during his rookie season.

After the Mets’ flurry of moves in the offseason, there was plenty of speculation that the relationship between Soto and Lindor was fractured. This would seem to give those rumors a little bit more credence. Castillo mentioned that “tension” was lingering, so sources mentioned “that Peralta in June arranged for the two stars to vent and work through their disconnect.” Peralta and Lindor have confirmed that the meeting occurred, but Castillo reports that “Soto denied such a meeting happened.” The last part is not the best indicator that things have improved, but if Peralta could have helped make that relationship more palatable, it would potentially be his lasting legacy as a member of the 2026 Mets.

As the lone Met to bat five times, he flew out with the tying run on to end the 2-0 loss today. While he’s gone 5-for-5 stealing bases, Ewing is hitting .222/.271/.270 with 18 strikeouts in 15 games in the second half. The Mets need to keep playing him, but he might not be their best option in the leadoff spot right now.

Semien is back at second base and hitting sixth after sitting out the front-end of Wednesday’s twin bill. The 35-year-old veteran has been on a tear at the dish recently, homering three times in his last five games. The other change for New York involves Luis Robert Jr. taking a turn in center field with rookie sensation A.J. Ewing on the bench.

Ewing has hit leadoff in all but one game since July 6, starting against all four lefties the Mets have faced in that stretch. The rookie outfielder is now 14-for-20 on the bases this year, but he’s converted six in a row after an inefficient start. Ewing continues to look like a long-term building block for New York and will likely get all the playing time he can handle over the season’s final two months.

Benge takes a seat with Tyrone Taylor in left field and fellow rookie A.J. Ewing in the opposite corner. The 23-year-old has hit a bit of a rough patch since the All-Star break, hitting .200 (6-for-30) with one extra-base hit and 10 strikeouts during that eight-game span.

Ewing has been the team’s leadoff hitter in all but one game since July 6. The Mets are committed to building around him and fellow rookie Carson Benge, so this role should last through the August 3 deadline sell-off. Ewing had been off to a slow start in the second half, but he’s held his own overall as a 21-year-old rookie. The 11 stolen bases are nice, but he’s been caught six times. He’d ideally clean up that efficiency over the season’s final two months.

The Mets can’t seem to catch a break. Soto winds up requiring a trip to the injured list with a left calf issue for the second time this season after suffering the injury during Friday’s showdown against the Dodgers. New York’s interim skipper Andy Green told reporters Soto has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain that will keep him out for at least three weeks, if not longer. Simply put, fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him back until at least mid-to-late August or early September. The 27-year-old generational talent has put together another borderline elite fantasy campaign, slashing .283/.408/.539 with 46 runs scored, 21 homers, 52 RBI and seven steals in 359 plate appearances through 84 games. His absence kicks the door wide open for rookie A.J. Ewing to play everyday in left field.