FLUSHING, NY — The New York Mets enter their upcoming homestand facing a crisis that has transcended a mere “slow start.” Following a 2–1 extra-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday—sealed by a blown save from closer Devin Williams—the Mets have officially dropped 11 consecutive games, their longest skid in decades.
While the team sits at a dismal 7–15, the missing piece in the middle of their lineup is impossible to ignore. Juan Soto, the $440 million cornerstone of the Mets’ offseason, has been sidelined since early April with a right calf strain.
The “April Slump” That Wasn’t
Interestingly, before the injury, Soto appeared to have successfully “cured” his historical tendency for slow starts. Soto famously tweaked his offseason routine following his 2025 debut in New York, focusing on higher-intensity live pitching drills in January to ensure he was “game-ready” for Opening Day.
The results were immediate:
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Soto slashed a blistering .355/.412/.516 over his first eight games of 2026.
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He recorded 11 hits and 5 RBIs in just 31 at-bats before the calf injury occurred during a series against the Giants.
“I felt as prepared as I’ve ever been,” Soto said via an interpreter earlier this month. “The swing was there. This [injury] is just a frustrating bump in the road.”
Path to Return: The Homestand Savior?
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided a glimmer of hope for a restless fan base on Sunday. Soto is reportedly “on track” to be reinstated from the 10-day Injured List during the upcoming homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals, which begins Tuesday, April 21.
Crucially, Soto is expected to rejoin the active roster without a minor-league rehab assignment, having maintained his timing through simulated games at the team’s complex.
| Metric | 2026 Stats (Pre-Injury) | 2025 Full Season |
| Batting Average | .355 | .263 |
| Home Runs | 1 | 43 (Career High) |
| OPS | .928 | .921 |
| Games Played | 8 | 158 |
A Franchise in Freefall
The Mets’ current 11-game slide is the longest the franchise has seen in the modern era, drawing painful comparisons to the 1962 expansion season. In Soto’s absence, the offense has cratered, averaging fewer than three runs per game during the streak.
With Francisco Lindor publicly defending Mendoza’s leadership and the pitching staff struggling to find consistency, the return of “Childish Bambino” isn’t just a personnel boost—it’s a psychological necessity. If Soto is activated Tuesday as expected, he will be tasked with more than just hitting home runs; he will be tasked with stopping a historic collapse before the season reaches May.
