Juan Soto closer to playing again; Mets drop 1st game of series to Astros

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Aug 28, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The Mets remain hopeful that Juan Soto and Devin Williams will return over the next month, but it’s looking like Soto is much closer to playing again than Williams.

The star slugger has been able to increase the intensity of baseball activities over the last week, and especially in the last few days. His strained left calf has not been an issue when taking live at-bats, and he’s been running the bases again recently. Interim manager Andy Green said he’s had consistent workdays without his calf bothering him, which is a sign he’s trending in the right direction.

“He’s got a workday today, got a workday in yesterday,” Green said Friday at Citi Field ahead of the start of a series against the Houston Astros. “We’ll see where he is when he finishes up the day today, and what the next steps look like at that point in time, and where we go from there.”

The two are running out of time to play minor league rehab games, but can get them the work they need on the field as they did with Francisco Lindor earlier this season when he returned from a calf injury. It might be different with Williams, the closer, but it’s not uncommon for pitchers to throw simulated innings on the major league field in September when the minor league season is over.

Williams, who is on the injured list with a strained right shoulder, has not thrown yet, but is working towards it.

Mets 3, Astros 1

When it comes to the Mets’ rising young pitchers, growing pains are expected. Left-hander Nate Lavender had his first bump in the road of his young career Friday night in a 3-1 loss to the Astros, allowing inherited runners to score for the first time since he was called up to the big leagues.

In the top of the sixth with the Mets up 1-0 and the bases loaded, Lavender was brought in to get out of a jam for right-hander Christian Scott. He’s gotten out of every jam so far, and has become the Mets’ favorite arm in late-inning situations with runners on base. But Daulton Varsho hit a line drive to right field for a two-run single, ending his streak.

He got Christian Walker swinging for the second out, then gave up another line drive to right, this one to Yainer Diaz. The Astros went up 3-1 and held on to the lead.

Scott was charged with three earned runs on one hit over 5 1/3 innings. It was the five walks that hurt him. Typically, he commands the ball well, but this wasn’t his night.

The Mets managed one run off right-hander Hunter Brown. He gave up five hits, walked one and struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings.