Juan Soto (calf) progressing towards return

Soto doubled with a run scored in his return Saturday, and the 27-year-old star picked up his first homer since July 9 with his solo shot. The Mets have been a borderline disaster in 2026, but Soto has done his part — when on the field, anyway — with a .941 OPS and 21 homers in his 85 games.

Soto is at DH and hitting second against the Astros on Saturday following a five-week absence with a left calf strain. The 27-year-old generational talent was hitting .283/.408/.539 with 46 runs scored, 21 homers, 52 RBI and seven steals in 359 plate appearances through 84 games before landing on the shelf in late July. He’s likely to spend most of his time at DH over the final month of the season with Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Luis Robert Jr. splitting time across New York’s outfield mix.

It sounds like if it’s not at some point this weekend against the Astros, Soto is in play to be activated for the September fantasy stretch run. He’s been out with a calf strain since late July.

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.

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.

Soto declined to offer a definitive return timetable after hitting the injured list with a Grade 2 left calf strain over the weekend. The 27-year-old fantasy stalwart is expected to miss at least three weeks, which makes it unlikely he’ll return to New York’s lineup until at least late August. It’ll be rookie A.J. Ewing playing everyday in left field during his absene. There should be a clearer timeline from the Mets once Soto is cleared to resume baseball activities in the next few weeks. For the moment, fantasy managers should anticipate Soto playing again this season.

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.

It sounds like an IL stint could be possible now. Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. will likely see DH time while Soto is out. Eric Wagaman or MJ Melendez could be recalled if Soto lands on the IL.

Soto has been dealing with the issue since the beginning of the second half. He’s again likely day-to-day. If he plays again this weekend, it’d probably be as a DH, meaning there wouldn’t be a spot for Jorge Polanco in the lineup.

Perhaps this has something to do with his troublesome calf? It was a 1-1 game, so it certainly wasn’t score related. Soto, who started at DH, walked twice before being replaced by Jorge Polanco.