What happened: Juan Soto came out before the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Cubs with what the Mets described as left-side back tightness. He had gone hitless in two at-bats, wincing at the plate, and was seen in the dugout with a heat wrap around his lower back before heading to the clubhouse. Jared Young took over in left field to begin the fifth.

Why it matters: It is the second time this season Soto has departed a game early, after a strained right calf landed him on the injured list in April and cost him 15 games. A last-place club that has been without Francisco Lindor since late April can ill afford to lose its other cornerstone bat, with the two stars yet to share a healthy lineup.

What to watch: Manager Carlos Mendoza called Soto day-to-day, leaving his status for the coming games unsettled as New York continues to wait on Lindor's return.