Mets' Juan Soto scratched from Sunday's lineup vs. Marlins due to illness

The Mets have scratched Juan Soto from the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Miami Marlins due to an illness.

“Soto’s ill, so he’s out of the lineup,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “I think this is something that we are all battling for the past week. He’s been battling it for the past three days. Showed up today with fever, body aches, and didn’t have much sleep. So, hopefully he recovers and we have a player [off the bench] for today.

“Kind of like a flu going around.”

Soto was originally batting third and serving as the designated hitter. Now, A.J. Ewing has been moved up to the three-hole, with MJ Melendez sliding in lower in the order as the DH.

Losing Soto’s bat in the lineup comes at a rough time for the Mets, who have scored exactly one run on three hits in each of the first two games against Miami, both losses.

And Soto has been on a heater as well, hitting .333 with a .778 slugging percentage, four home runs, and seven RBI over his last seven games.

Mets’ Juan Soto scratched from Sunday’s lineup vs. Marlins due to illness