What happened to Juan Soto? Why Mets star was scratched from Sunday lineup vs. Marlins | Sporting News (original) (raw)

The New York Mets have gone through some struggles recently and have lost two in a row to the Miami Marlins down in Florida.

For Sunday's matchup, the Mets are looking to avoid the sweep and not drop to 22-31 on the season. While they turn to Christian Scott on the mound, the Mets will have a weaker lineup than usual.

Juan Soto was initially slotted into the third spot in the batting order as the designated hitter, but was a late scratch for the Mets. But why is he not playing in Sunday's series finale against the Marlins? SNY Mets shared the reason, and it's not one to overly worry about.

Why Juan Soto isn't playing today vs. Marlins

"Juan Soto has been scratched from today's lineup due to an illness," SNY Mets shared. Soto, the star slugger for the Mets, is being replaced by MJ Melendez in the lineup at DH.

The Mets have been dealing with the flu in the clubhouse recently, according to Abbey Mastracco of the NY Daily News, so this absence from Soto isn't completely out of nowhere.

It's still far from ideal, as the Mets are now down their best hitter for the series finale against the Marlins, as the Mets try to avoid the sweep.

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But, if nothing else, this illness isn't some serious injury that will cause him to hit the injured list. It's still something to be cautious about, but Soto's absence isn't due to some pre-game injury.

The Mets will face Marlins pitcher Tyler Phillips to kick-start this game, and will have to put up more than one run as they have in the last two games against the Marlins.

They will have to do so without Soto, as he was a late scratch from the Mets lineup due to an illness that's been going around the Mets clubhouse recently.

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