MIAMI — Juan Soto was a late scratch from the Mets lineup on Sunday, with manager Carlos Mendoza saying the slugger came to loanDepot park with a fever.

Mendoza said Soto is dealing with the same flu-like symptoms that have been going through the Mets’ clubhouse the past few days.

“He is ill, so he is out of the lineup,” said Mendoza, who originally had Soto at DH and batting third in Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins. MJ Melendez replaced Soto in the lineup as the DH, and center fielder A.J. Ewing replaced Soto in the three-spot.

“This is something that we have all been battling for the past week, he has been battling the past three days. He showed up today with a fever, body aches, didn’t get much sleep.’’

Soto has been one of New York’s most productive hitters lately, driving in the Mets’ lone run in their 2-1 loss to the Marlins on Friday with a towering home run which reached the second deck.

Over the past seven games, Soto is hitting .333 with four home runs and seven RBIs.

The Mets have struggled against the Marlins offensively, being held to just two runs in their two losses thus far this weekend in Miami.

New York comes into Sunday with losses in four of the past five and the Marlins have won eight of the past 10 games against the Mets dating to April 2025.