Juan Soto is a late scratch for the Mets today due to illness. Soto came to the ballpark with a fever, body aches, and other flu-like symptoms. According to Carlos Mendoza, the entire clubhouse has been struggling with illness for the last week, and Soto himself has been experiencing symptoms for the last three days.
Soto had provided the only run that the Mets scored on Friday against the Marlins, one of only two runs they have scored in this series thus far. MJ Melendez will replace Soto in the lineup
as the team’s designated hitter, and A.J. Ewing will move up to bat third.
Soto has been the Mets’ best hitter by a wide margin this season. Among hitters who’ve made at least 50 plate appearances this year, his .294/.390/.559 line, 10 home runs, and 163 wRC+ all lead the team. The injured Francisco Alvarez ranks second with a 106 wRC+, and Mark Vientos is second on the team with six home runs.
