The New York Mets just can't catch a break—or stay healthy. Just when it seemed like things couldn't get worse, the team announced Thursday morning that All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is headed to the 10-day injured list with a lumbar disc herniation. It's the latest blow for a franchise that's been battered by injuries and poor play all season.

Robert, 28, had been battling back discomfort for several days and underwent an MRI on Wednesday. He last played on April 26, so the Mets can backdate his IL stint to April 27, but that's little consolation for a team already missing key stars. Robert joins a growing list of sidelined Mets that includes shortstop Francisco Lindor, second baseman Jorge Polanco, and pitcher Kodai Senga—a devastating lineup of absent talent.

This injury news comes amid a brutal stretch for New York. The team recently snapped its longest losing streak in decades, only to be swept at home by the Colorado Rockies and then hammered by the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. The on-field struggles are mounting, and now the roster is thinning fast.

For a team with championship aspirations, the Mets are finding out the hard way that depth is everything. Robert was expected to be a key contributor in the outfield, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in both the lineup and the clubhouse. As the injury bug continues to bite, the Mets will need to dig deep—or risk seeing their season slip away entirely.