Juan Soto returns healthy as Mets beat Astros on stream
Juan Soto is healthy and back in the New York Mets lineup after missing 31 games with a grade 2 left calf strain. Activated from the 10-day injured list before the Aug. 29 game, the All-Star slugger delivered the go-ahead RBI single in a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros — his second return from calf trouble in 2026.
In a season the Mets cannot salvage on the scoreboard, Juan Soto's availability is one of the few clear positives. New York entered the stretch 61-75 and 12 games out of the National League's final wild-card spot with 26 games remaining. For fans tracking late-season storylines on Streaming & TV Alerts, Soto's comeback is the headline worth watching.
Key Takeaways
- Juan Soto returned Aug. 29 after a five-week absence and went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in a 6-2 Mets win over Houston.
- The Mets chose not to shut down their $765 million star despite a lost season, citing health, clubhouse culture, and momentum since the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
- Nolan McLean pitched seven strong innings and the Mets snapped a three-game skid at Citi Field before a crowd of 29,183.
- The Aug. 29 game aired on ESPN Unlimited and MLB.TV, keeping out-of-market viewers connected to Soto's return.
Why Did the Mets Bring Juan Soto Back?
After missing roughly five weeks with a left calf strain — following a right calf strain in April that cost him nearly three weeks — Soto rejoined the Mets without a minor-league rehab assignment. Interim manager Andy Green had projected a four-to-six-week timetable in late July, and Soto beat the end of that window.
As The Athletic reported, the Mets felt that healthy players should play when physically ready. Green praised Soto for pushing himself when many veterans might ease off in a non-playoff year. Starting pitcher Sean Manaea called it a warrior mentality that sets an example for a young core the Mets are building around.
Soto also pointed to the Mets' 14-9 record since their Aug. 3 deadline selloff as extra motivation. Heading into Saturday, he owned a .947 OPS with 21 home runs in 359 plate appearances despite the injuries.
What Happened When Soto Returned Against the Astros?
Soto's first plate appearance drew a standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd. In the fifth inning, he fouled a pitch off his right leg, grimaced, and was checked by Green and a trainer. On the very next pitch, he laced an RBI single off Cristian Javier to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.
Later in the inning, Soto scored from second on Jared Young's two-run triple. Young finished with three hits and a career-high three RBIs. Francisco Alvarez added a two-run double in the eighth as New York built a 6-2 final.
On the mound, Nolan McLean allowed one unearned run and struck out four over seven innings. He improved to 10-8 and carried an 8-4 mark with a 2.19 ERA across his last 16 starts. The victory halted a three-game losing streak during New York's series against Houston.
How Can Fans Watch Soto and the Mets Down the Stretch?
Saturday's contest was available nationally through ESPN Unlimited and via MLB.TV for subscribers outside local blackout zones, according to ESPN's game recap. That coverage matters in a lost season when the product on the field — and who is wearing the uniform — is what keeps audiences engaged.
Soto served as designated hitter in his return and may get occasional rest days, but the Mets plan to keep their franchise cornerstone in the lineup when he feels ready. For a franchise investing $765 million in his future, having Juan Soto healthy and visible down the stretch is the silver lining Amazin' Avenue captured in its morning roundup headline: at least Soto is healthy.