Despite the season-opening loss, Juan Soto could soon get some good news with the return of a New York Mets teammate who could help shore up the defense from the mound. Juan Soto not only had a quiet debut in the season opener but also watched as the New York Mets dropped their first game on the road—a painful start to his tenure.

The $765 million man got on base three times Thursday, but he also made the final out of the Mets' season-opening loss.

This was the script from last fall. Regardless of how the first seven or eight innings had gone, the Mets discovered another gear late, often against the opposing team’s most dominant relievers. Here it was, supercharged by the presence of Soto. “If we’ve got Juan up at the end of the game,” said Clay Holmes, “everybody likes our chances.”