NEW YORK -- It is no longer accurate to say Juan Soto is having a down year, even by his own lofty standards. In April and May, sure -- Soto was good, not great. In June, he did his best to make up for lost time; in July, he backslid a bit.

But in August, Soto has once again risen, bringing his overall numbers back to a place of sublimity. Soto’s two home runs Saturday fueled the Mets’ six-run comeback in what -- through no fault of his own -- became an 11-8 loss to the Marlins at Citi Field. Through 136 games, Soto leads the Mets in homers (35) and runs scored (102) and, implausibly, is tied for the team lead in stolen bases (25). With a month to go, he has a realistic shot at a 30-30 season.

Most importantly, Soto is peaking at a crucial time for the Mets, who will need him at his

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