Juan Soto left the Mets’ game against the Chicago Cubs after four innings, clutching a heating pad in the dugout. He winced on contact in both of his at‑bats – a flyout to left in the first and a lineout to center in the third. The Cubs built a 5‑2 lead before New York narrowed the gap to one run. Mets officials later confirmed he exited with left‑side back tightness.

Despite the injury, Soto remains one of the National League’s most productive hitters, posting a .299 average, 17 homers and a .965 OPS across 61 games. He missed 15 contests in April with a calf strain, underscoring a season plagued by health setbacks. The Mets sit in last place, scrambling to keep their offensive spark alive.

Managerial hopes now turn to Francisco Lindor, who could return from the injured list as early as Wednesday. Lindor missed time after a calf strain suffered on April 22, the same day Soto rejoined the roster. The two have shared the field in just nine of the Mets’ 77 games, a pairing the club desperately needs to revive its lineup.