When you have the worst record in the league and the second-highest payroll, a shakeup is needed. On Monday, the New York Mets made a surprising change to their lineup ahead of their series opener against the Colorado Rockies. Juan Soto isn’t a name you regularly see hitting leadoff. The superstar outfielder is one of the best pure hitters in the league, and has made a career out of the three-spot, providing protection for names like Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso . But on Monday, Soto will find himself in unfamiliar territory at the top of the order. Juan Soto is batting leadoff today for the third time in his career and first time since 2021 pic.twitter.com/AVsZJFQeSV — Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 4, 2026 With Francisco Lindor on the Injured List, the move makes sense on paper. Soto has the team’s highest OBP by more than 20 points and has 12 walks to just 13 strikeouts. But he is also the Mets’ best hitter and one of the only threats to bring in runs.…