Juan Soto returned to the starting lineup and homered Thursday as the injury-riddled New York Mets completed a sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 9-4 win, the report says.
Soto had exited a 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Tigers in the seventh inning Wednesday after fouling a ball off his right foot. X-rays were negative and he batted third as the designated hitter in Thursday’s matinee. “I wasn’t concerned, I’ve done it before,” Soto said Thursday. “It was getting swollen big time, so I just tried to make a smart move. I know how to handle it.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Francisco Lindor, who was injured April 22 while scoring from first on a double hit by Francisco Alvarez, underwent an MRI on Wednesday that showed “signs of healing,” though the All-Star shortstop is nowhere near a return. Mendoza said Lindor has been cleared to do more work in the weight room before beginning a running program and called that a “positive sign.” Mendoza also said there is no timetable for Lindor to begin baseball activities, per the report.
Alvarez suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee while fouling off a pitch in Tuesday’s 10-2 win over the Tigers and underwent surgery Thursday morning. Mendoza said the Mets expect Alvarez to miss up to eight weeks, the report says.
The club remains hampered by injuries, with Alvarez added to a list that includes Lindor as well as right-handers Reed Garrett (Tommy John surgery), Justin Hagenman (fractured rib), Tylor Megill (sprained right elbow), Dedniel Nunez (Tommy John surgery) and Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation); left-hander A.J. Minter (left lat surgery); infielders Ronny Mauricio (broken left thumb), Jorge Polanco (bruised right wrist) and Jared Young (torn left meniscus); and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine disk herniation). The report also notes Soto missed 15 games last month because of a strained right calf and that Lindor has been sidelined for the Mets’ last 18 games.
