Mets' Carlos Mendoza Announces Unfortunate Injury News Before Nationals Game

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Mets' Carlos Mendoza Announces Unfortunate Injury News Before Nationals Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Apr 29, 2026 5:16 PM ET

The month of April could not have gone much worse for the New York Mets. Entering Wednesday with a 10-19 record, they were tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the worst mark in MLB.

For a team that opened the season with the league’s second-highest payroll, the early results have been nothing short of disappointing. The Mets path back into contention is made even more difficult by the number of injuries they are dealing with.

Superstar outfielder Juan Soto missed multiple weeks earlier this month with a calf strain. Shortstop Francisco Lindor is expected to be out for an extended stretch with the same injury. Jorge Polanco is also on the injured list, leaving the Mets without multiple everyday players.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64)© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Now, another key contributor may be joining them. Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. has not played since Sunday due to lower back tightness. Ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with the Washington Nationals , manager Carlos Mendoza shared more unfortunate injury news.

He revealed that Robert “didn’t improve much” overnight and will undergo an MRI. Mendoza also acknowledged that an injured list stint is a real possibility (h/t Anthony DiComo of MLB.com).

This has been a recurring theme throughout Robert’s career. The 28-year-old has dealt with a long list of nagging injuries and has struggled to stay consistently healthy.

Luis Robert Jr. (back) "didn't improve much" overnight, per Carlos Mendoza. He's receiving an MRI today. The injured list is in play for him.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 29, 2026

Even with his early season struggles, Robert is still a more impactful option than any of the club’s current depth pieces. Through 24 games, he has posted a .224 batting average, .327 on-base percentage and .656 OPS, numbers well below his talent level but still valuable given the state of the roster.

The Mets continue to hope Robert can rediscover the form he showed with the Chicago White Sox, particularly during his All-Star 2023 season.

But for now, the priority is determining the severity of his back issue and whether he will be sidelined again. With the Mets already fighting an uphill battle, losing another everyday player would only make an already difficult climb even steeper.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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