The return of one of baseball’s premier shortstops gives the Mets a much-needed boost during a crucial stretch of the season.

The Mets fell flat in their opening game of their six-game homestand against a pair of two top teams in the National League. On Tuesday, the Mets offense only collected five hits, Freddy Peralta was hit around the ballpark and they were shut out for the seventh time this season in a 7-0 loss to the Cardinals.

The New York Mets continue to slump their way through the 2026 MLB season. After a 2-1 loss at home against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, the Mets have fallen in their 7th straight game and now sit 14 games under the .

The Mets had at least something go right for them, as Juan Soto avoided the injured list and was back in the lineup for the series finale against the Cubs after exiting Tuesday’s game with back tightness.

The Mets are limping back home after an ugly weekend in Philadelphia. Despite taking the opening game of their series with the Phillies, the Mets lost the final two games by a combined score of 21-5 as they closed out a losing six-game road trip.

The Mets are giving Francisco Alvarez a second straight start at DH, leaving no room in the lineup for Melendez. Melendez is batting just .191/.313/.364 through 132 plate appearances, and he might get bounced from the roster at some point if the Mets get healthy.

It may be too little, too late, but there’s a chance Francisco Lindor is back with the Mets on Wednesday, according to Carlos Mendoza. The Mets have been waiting for Lindor to return from a strained left calf since April.

Only seven times this season have the Mets played a full game with both Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor in their lineup. Tuesday night, with Lindor potentially hours away from returning from the injured list,