Juan Soto is officially back in the New York Mets lineup for Saturday’s game against the Astros, but man, what a mess he’s stepping into at Citi Field. He’s been out since July 24 with a left calf strain, and the offense has absolutely been dragging without him. They put up just three total runs in their last two defeats, struggling hard against aces like the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski and the Astros’ Hunter Brown. This team has lost three straight games heading into today’s action at 4:10 p.m.
Soto Returns to a Team That’s Collapsing
The Mets’ Friday 3-1 loss officially dropped them to a dismal 60-75 on the season. That record just hits different, doesn’t it? They need a serious spark, and the hope is Soto provides that much-needed lift. Carson Benge did manage to get on the board for them with a fourth-inning RBI double on Friday, but then Christian Scott came in and coughed up three straight walks, just opening the door wide for the Astros. It’s been a tough stretch, and Soto’s return at designated hitter really puts the pressure on him to produce immediately. This Saturday lineup has Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Soto DH, Bo Bichette at third, Carson Benge in right field, Jared Young at first base, Marcus Semien at second, A.J. Ewing in center field, Bretr Baty in left field, and Francisco Alvarez catching. Can this group finally get it together?
Rookie Ace Faces Disaster Opener in Crucial Matchup
While the Mets are trying to pull themselves out of a tailspin, their rookie right-hander Nolan McLean is looking to keep his personal hot streak alive. This kid is legit. He’s coming into Saturday’s game looking to continue a crazy run of success, having turned in eight quality starts in his last nine outings. His last time out, he absolutely stifled the White Sox, holding them scoreless on just one hit and four walks, racking up six strikeouts over six innings. For his first full season, McLean’s numbers are stellar: 9-8 with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 168 strikeouts across 148⅔ innings. He’s been a bright spot in a really dim season.
On the flip side, the Astros are rolling with an opener for Saturday’s game, left-hander Bennett Sousa. His season line is not pretty: 1-3 with a 6.27 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP in 22 appearances. His last outing was a total nightmare, allowing four earned runs on five hits and one walk while only getting one out against the Yankees. That performance really bloated his stats, and it makes you wonder what the Astros are thinking putting him out there to start this game.
The Astros, meanwhile, are riding high after Friday’s win combined with a Rangers loss, pushing their lead in the AL West to two games. They sit at 68-67, and every game counts right now. For the Mets, it’s all about if Soto can be the hero they desperately need and if McLean can deliver another gem to try and stop this embarrassing skid. Can they steal a win against a division leader and start to turn things around, even just a little? Or will the struggle continue?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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