NEW YORK — Let’s give credit where it’s due regarding Juan Soto. He was drop-dead honest when he said life with the Mets is “different” than it was with the Yankees. It was neither a complaint nor an insult to anyone on either New York team – just the truth about the advantages of hitting in front of Aaron Judge versus Pete Alonso.

So far, it seems like pitchers are intent to let anyone but Soto in the Mets lineup beat them. And it's resulted in a strong start to the season for slugging first baseman Pete Alonso, who, entering play Tuesday, leads the National League with a 1.136 OPS.

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto told Mike Puma of the New York Post that he was "pitched differently last year," when he was with the New York Yankees and had two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge hitting behind him.