Juan Soto reportedly returning from IL to reeling Mets amid worst start in NL

Jason OwensTue, April 21, 2026 at 8:38 PM UTC

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The New York Mets are in the midst of an 11-game losing streak and a 7-15 start that’s the worst in the National League.

But there’s good news on the way. Per multiple media reports, All-Star slugger Juan Soto is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday from a 14-game absence due to a calf injury.

Soto sustained a calf strain April 3 against the San Francisco Giants. The Mets placed him on the injured list three days later, and he hasn’t played since.

The Mets beat the Giants on April 3 to spark a four-game winning streak and improve to 7-4. Since then, they’ve lost 11 straight as their offense has gone stagnant. They entered Tuesday 8.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Only the 7-16 Kansas City Royals have a worse record than the Mets in all of MLB.

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The Mets are hoping they can right their ship with a nine-game homestand and the return of Juan Soto from the injured list.

(Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants via Getty Images)

After a day off Monday, the Mets host the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday for the start of a nine-game homestand that also includes three-game series against the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals. Soto is expected to return for the second game of the three-game series against the Twins.

The Mets desperately need an infusion of offense, and they’ll be hoping Soto can provide that. New York has scored two runs or fewer in eight of its games during the skid. With 72 total runs in 22 games, the Mets entered Tuesday with the fewest runs scored in MLB.

Soto is a four-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger and batting champion. Prior to his injury, he was off to a strong start this season, his second with the Mets. In eight games, Soto slashed .355/.412/.516 with 3 walks, 1 home run and 5 RBI.

Much of the rest of New York’s high-priced lineup has faltered early in the season.

The Mets have the second-highest payroll in MLB, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers, and were projected to compete for the NL East crown and beyond. They’ll look to Soto’s return and their nine-game homestand against three teams with losing records to turn their season around.

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Source: “AOL Sports”