Mets' Soto Return Crucial for Homestand

0:00On April 17, the New York Mets are hurting bad without Juan Soto, who's been sidelined by a strained calf. Their offense has tanked during an 8-game losing streak, hitting just a 175 batting average with a 471 on-base plus. Slugging. Soto's the spark they desperately need to fire up the lineup and stop the bleed. Updates on Soto, stay steady, he's wrapping up baseball activities, and still eyeing a return during next week's 9-game homestand against Minnesota. Colorado and Washington. But the team plans a supplemental MRI on that calf first, just to double check he's fully healed before activating him. Fans and analysts are buzzing about the impact, especially with the Mets, 8 games back in the standings. That homestand could be maker-break to clawback ground, and without Soto, their bats look lost, abandoning the patient approach he brings to the plate. Manager Carlos Mendoza shook things up in Chicago, sliding Carson Benz to lead off and Boba's shed to second ahead of Francisco Lindor.

1:03If this clicks, sliding Soto back in gets tricky. Maybe clean up behind Lindor, or sandwich between Bashet and Lindor for left-right balance, too. Messed with pitchers, meanwhile, Jorge Polonco's nursing wrist soreness and Bersitis, sitting again, which opens spots but adds uncertainty. Keep an eye on that MRI, and how Soto slots in, I could flip the Mets season on its head. Stay tuned with MLB News today, AI-powered updates.