The 2026 season is rapidly devolving into a full-blown nightmare for the New York Mets. The team currently sits dead last in the National League East with a dismal 22-30 record and is fresh off a demoralizing sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins. However, for the fan base, there is a looming concern that far outweighs the team’s recent losing skid—and it stems directly from what manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed before the series finale in Miami.
Mets hit by illness as Juan Soto misses out
“Soto is out of the lineup. He is something that we have been battling for the past week. He’s been battling for the past three days, show up with a fever today… There are a lot of people you know, as I said, for the past week I’ve been dealing with this kind of like a flu going on,” Mendoza explained, according to statements gathered by SNY.
Juan Soto’s absence was felt immediately against the Marlins. Stripped of their primary offensive weapon, the Mets were completely neutralized, failing to scratch across a single run in a 4-0 shutout loss. In fact, Bo Bichette, Andrew Ewing, and MJ Melendez were the only players who managed to record a hit in an offensive performance to forget. While fans wondered why one of the team’s biggest stars—who is batting .294 with 10 home runs on the season—was unavailable, the coaching staff finally cleared up the reasons behind his absence.
However, the real panic in New York extends beyond just Soto’s status. What is most troubling for the organization is Mendoza’s confirmation that several players have been battling flu-like symptoms over the last few days, a situation that threatens to worsen an already delicate moment for the team.
While it has not yet been revealed which other players are affected, there is deep concern over the possibility of more names hitting the shelf. The Mets have already suffered a massive offensive regression over the past week. After exploding for 16 runs against the Washington Nationals, the team’s production cratered, yielding just 14 total runs over the next five games. The series against Miami was the ultimate reflection of that crisis, with the Mets plating just two runs across the three-game stretch.
Losing Soto hurts specifically because of the tear he was on. The Dominican outfielder had mashed six home runs in his last 15 games, cementing himself as the undisputed engine of the franchise’s offense. This isn’t the first time his absence has derailed the team, either; when he missed time earlier this year with a calf strain, the Mets spiraled into a devastating 12-game losing streak.
Compounding the issue, the roster is already plagued by significant injuries. Jared Young, one of the few hitters who was producing at a level comparable to Soto, remains sidelined, while key bats like Bo Bichette and Mark Vientos continue to search for their form at the plate. If the flu continues to sweep through the clubhouse, the lineup’s struggles could multiply exponentially.
The statistical outlook offers very little comfort. The Mets currently rank 25th in Major League Baseball in both runs scored (205) and team batting average (.228). Combine that with key pieces like Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, and Young all lingering on the injured list, and the situation looks bleak. With Soto lacking a definitive timeline to return and the lingering threat of new flu cases popping up, the Mets’ crisis threatens to deepen even further.
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