Mets fans, take a deep breath—Juan Soto is back in the lineup. After fouling a pitch off his foot in Wednesday night's extra-inning thriller against the Tigers, the superstar outfielder is starting Thursday's day game, signaling that the injury is far less serious than it looked. Soto gutted through the at-bat in obvious pain, returned for another plate appearance in the sixth, and was later replaced by MJ Melendez. Negative X-rays postgame paved the way for his quick return—a huge relief for a Mets squad already dealing with a crowded injury report.

While Soto's return is the bright spot, his bat hasn't quite caught fire since coming off the injured list in April. Over 19 games, he's hitting .221 with a .333 on-base percentage and .412 slugging, along with six RBIs. It's not the vintage Soto we know, but having him in the lineup is still a massive win for a team navigating key absences, including Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr.

Speaking of Lindor, SNY's Steve Gelbs reported Thursday that the shortstop's latest MRI shows healing in his injured calf, though there's still no timetable for his return. Manager Carlos Mendoza added that Lindor will now focus on the strength-training phase of his recovery—a positive step, but one that requires patience.

Meanwhile, catcher Francisco Alvarez underwent surgery Thursday for a torn meniscus in his right knee, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The team expects his recovery to lean toward the longer end of the timeline, meaning an eight-week absence is likely. That's a tough blow for a catcher who was showing promise behind the plate and with the bat.

Despite the injury cloud, the Mets have a golden opportunity Thursday afternoon: a chance to sweep the struggling Tigers, who have managed just three wins in May. After Wednesday's extra-inning victory, New York is looking to build momentum and prove that even with key pieces sidelined, they can stack wins. For fans, seeing Soto back in the lineup is the first step toward that goal.