When the two most high-profile injuries of the early 2026 MLB season both produce optimistic updates on the same day, that is worth noting. On Tuesday, both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets offered reason for cautious optimism regarding their injured outfield stars.
Mookie Betts, who went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery. Juan Soto, placed on the 10-day IL with a right calf injury, had his MRI come back with a grade 1 classification — the mildest possible designation for a muscle strain.
Betts: “Light Years Ahead”
The news on Betts is better than the original framing of the injury suggested. When the Dodgers first announced that their star outfielder had suffered a right oblique strain — an injury typically associated with 4-6 week timelines — the fear was that he could be missing significant time during the early months of the season.
That fear now appears to have been overblown. Manager Dave Roberts said recently that the recovery timeline could be shorter than the typical range for oblique injuries. And Betts himself — speaking with reporters — offered language that was even more encouraging, saying he is “light years ahead” of where he expected to be this early in the process.
The Dodgers recalled outfielder Hyeseong Kim from Triple-A as a roster replacement while Betts is on the IL. In Monday’s 14-2 win over Toronto, the lineup proved it could produce without him at full capacity — but Betts’ return will make the Dodgers demonstrably better. The timeline is now looking more like weeks rather than the maximum feared projection.
Soto: Grade 1, 2-3 Weeks
Juan Soto’s situation became clearer when his MRI results were shared publicly. The New York Mets outfielder suffered the calf injury while running the bases during a 10-3 Mets win over the San Francisco Giants. He went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 4, and Ronny Mauricio was recalled from the minor leagues to take his roster spot.
The MRI confirmed a grade 1 calf strain — the least severe designation for a muscle strain — with a projected return of approximately 2-3 weeks. For a player of Soto’s importance to the Mets’ offensive structure, that timeline is encouraging. Grade 1 strains are generally manageable with rest and physical therapy, and there is no structural damage of concern in his case.
Soto had been one of the most productive hitters in the American League — now NL — over the past several seasons, and his presence in the Mets lineup is central to their offensive plan. Missing 2-3 weeks is manageable. Missing 6-8 weeks would have been a different conversation entirely.
What’s Next
For both teams, the focus shifts from worst-case scenario planning to managing the return timeline carefully. The Dodgers, who still have Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and a deep roster, are holding up well in Betts’ absence. The Mets have Ronny Mauricio covering the roster spot while Soto rehabs. Neither team has fallen apart in the absence of their injured star — which is a good sign for how they’ll look when those stars return to full strength. The next meaningful update will come when each team gives a firm target date for return to action.
