NEW YORK >> Juan Soto’s numbers are getting ugly.

The slumping New York Mets slugger went hitless again Wednesday and failed to get the ball out of the infield in a 9-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

After signing a record $765 million contract in December as a free agent, Soto is batting a measly .224 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 55 games during a turbulent first season with the Mets.

The four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner was 0 for 4 with a walk and a strikeout Wednesday in a dreary performance that matched the weather.

He was booed by a sparse crowd at Citi Field, where only a few thousand fans were on hand for a hastily rescheduled game.

Soto is 0 for 16 since lacing a two-run double off the right-center fence Saturday in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And nothing seems to be going his way: He lost a hit on a chaotic play Tuesday night when he was called out for passing teammate Brandon Nimmo on the basepaths.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed faith in Soto both before and after Wednesday’s loss.

“Today was one of those days where he didn’t hit the ball hard, but I thought his foundation — his lower half — was in a better position,” Mendoza said.

Astros’ Blanco set for season-ending surgery>> Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco will have season-ending Tommy John surgery next week.

The team made the announcement after Blanco got a second opinion. He was placed on the injured list last week with inflammation in his throwing elbow, a few days after his last start on May 17.

“I know how hard he’s worked to get to this point and it stinks,” manager Joe Espada said. “So the goal is now to get him healthy, get him back at some point next season.”

Blanco is the second Astros starter this month to have to undergo Tommy John surgery after they announced on May 18 that right-hander Hayden Wesneski would need it.

Espada said it’s a trying time for his team, which also is without right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who has been out since April after breaking his right thumb in a batting practice mishap. They also are missing right-handers Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier, who are both still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Angels activate reliever Stephenson>> Sixteen months after signing a $33 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, reliever Robert Stephenson is finally ready to throw a pitch for his new team.

Stephenson missed last season after undergoing elbow surgery in May 2024 that included an ulnar collateral ligament repair with an internal brace.

He was activated off the injured list for Wednesday night’s series finale against the New York Yankees.

The Angels also selected the contract of utilityman Scott Kingery from Triple-A Salt Lake. Veteran infielder Tim Anderson, a two-time All-Star who batted .205 in 31 games for the Angels, was designated for assignment.

Seager is reinstated by Texas>> Corey Seager was reinstated by the Texas Rangers after his second stint on the injured list this season because of a right hamstring strain.