Mets' Francisco Lindor: Plays hero to clinch playoff spot
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Lindor went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in an 8-7 win over Atlanta during the first game of Monday's doubleheader.
The matinee features a wild finish that saw 12 of the game's 15 runs cross the plate over the final two innings, but it was Lindor's two-run blast in the top of the ninth off Pierce Johnson that sealed the victory for the Mets and booked their ticket to the playoffs. Lindor was rested for the nightcap, and he wraps up an impressive regular season with a .273/.344/.500 slash line, 33 homers, 29 steals, 91 RBI and 107 runs over 152 contests.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Sitting second game after clinch
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Lindor is not in the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Lindor provided a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning of the Mets' win in the first game. With a berth in the postseason in hand, Lindor will get some rest for his ailing back in the second contest. Luisangel Acuna is at shortstop and batting leadoff.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Blasts 32nd homer
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Lindor went 2-for-4 Sunday with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored against the Brewers.
Lindor reached base three times, with his solo shot in the sixth representing the fifth and final run for the Mets. Lindor has been hot during the closing stretch of the season despite a recent eight-game absence due to a back injury. The Mets need to win at least one game in Monday's duobleheader against Atlanta to make the postseason, but if they take the matinee, Lindor could get rested for the nightcap.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: In Friday's lineup
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Lindor (back) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Friday's game in Milwaukee, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Lindor had been slated to return to action Wednesday in Atlanta before that game got rained out. Instead, his eight-game absence will end Friday as the Mets open a series against the Brewers.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Back in action Wednesday
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Lindor (back) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Hurricane Helene could put Wednesday's contest at risk of postponement as the storm makes its way to the Gulf Coast, but if the game is played, the Mets will have their star shortstop back in the fold after an eight-game absence. Lindor appeared in the on-deck circle in Tuesday's 5-1 loss, but he ultimately went unused after the Mets failed to put a runner on base in the top of the ninth inning. The Mets are apparently comfortable enough with how Lindor responded to a recent injection in his back to not only deploy him atop the batting order, but at his usual spot in the field. Assuming he steers clear of any setbacks Wednesday, Lindor will likely be in the lineup for each of the remaining four games of the season as the Mets look to secure a wild-card spot.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: May return Wednesday
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Manager Carlos Mendoza said after Tuesday's loss to Atlanta that Lindor (back) "could be in play" for Wednesday's game, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Lindor didn't play in Tuesday's contest, but he finished the game in the on-deck circle and would have pinch hit in the ninth inning if the Mets had put anybody on base. Mendoza's willingness to use Lindor in a late-game situation is a good sign that the infielder has recovered from his lingering back issue after missing eight consecutive games, and he seems to have a good chance of ending the streak Wednesday.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Held out again Tuesday
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Lindor (back) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest in Atlanta.
It's the eighth consecutive start Lindor has missed due to a nagging back problem. The switch hitter has expressed optimism that he will be able to return at some point this week, but it's not clear when or if that will come to fruition. Luisangel Acuna will again start at shortstop and bat ninth for the Mets as Lindor's replacement.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Optimistic about return this week
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Lindor (back) said that he's "optimistic" that he will play again for the Mets before the regular season concludes Sunday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Lindor missed out on a seventh consecutive start in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Phillies and hasn't played a full game since Sept. 11 due to back tightness. The star shortstop showed some tangible signs of progress over the weekend, taking batting practice Friday after receiving a facet joint injection for his ailing back a day earlier. He proceeded to take BP again Saturday and Sunday, and Lindor also noted that he's been able to track pitches, play catch, field groundballs and do some running while he's been out of the lineup. The Mets will see how Lindor is feeling coming out of Monday's team off day before the club provides another update on his status heading into Tuesday's series opener in Atlanta.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Sitting out through weekend
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Lindor (back) will go through a full series of baseball activities Saturday, but he is not expected to play until Tuesday's series opener in Atlanta at the earliest, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lindor will wind up missing at least seven consecutive starts due to back pain. With a team off day coming Monday, the Mets will give the star shortstop some additional rest. While a Tuesday return isn't guaranteed, the fact that Lindor was cleared to resume full baseball activities this weekend is an encouraging development. In the meantime, Luisangel Acuna should continue to start at shortstop in Lindor's stead through Sunday.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Still out Saturday
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Lindor (back) isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday versus the Phillies.
Lindor will be missing his sixth straight start Saturday as a result of the back injury he suffered last week. He went through a full workout ahead of Friday's contest, but the 30-year-old seemingly still has a few boxes to check off before returning to the starting nine. Luisangel Acuna will pick up a start at shortstop and bat ninth while Lindor sits.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Going through full workout Friday
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Lindor (back) will attempt to go through a full slate of baseball activities before Friday's game, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lindor is not in Friday's lineup versus the Phillies, as he will miss a fifth straight start with his back injury. However, if he comes out of Friday's pregame workout well, he will have a shot to be back in the Mets' lineup Saturday. Lindor has started just one out of the team's last seven contests after tweaking his back one week ago.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Missing fifth straight start
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Lindor (back) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Lindor resumed baseball activities Wednesday and seemingly could be back in the Mets' lineup any day now, but his back injury will keep him out for a fifth straight contest Friday. Luisangel Acuna will again hold down shortstop and bat ninth.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Will be held out again Thursday
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Lindor (back) will remain out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated Wednesday that Lindor was unlikely to be ready to play in the series opener versus the Phillies, and Martino has confirmed that the National League MVP candidate will indeed miss his fourth straight start with a back injury. The good news is that Lindor did resume baseball activities Wednesday, per Martino, so progress is being made. Lindor noted Monday after being examined that he expected to miss anywhere from two to five days, and it's going to be toward the latter end of that timetable, at minimum. Luisangel Acuna has started at shortstop of the Mets in each of the last two contests.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Likely out until at least Friday
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Lindor (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza implied that Lindor is also unlikely to play in Thursday's series opener versus the Phillies, as the shortstop still hasn't resumed baseball activities, per Tim Healey of Newsday. Lindor's absence Wednesday will mark the third straight game he's missed due to a back injury. Lindor is expected to return before the end of the regular season, but it remains a bit of a mystery as to when exactly it might happen. Luisangel Acuna is getting another start at shortstop Wednesday.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Absence continuing Tuesday
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Lindor (back) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old said Monday that he could return to the lineup within the next 2-to-5 days, so it's not a surprise he remains out of the starting nine for Tuesday's contest. Lindor should be back in action for the Mets later this week, assuming he can avoid a setback with the nagging back injury. Rookie Luisangel Acuna is starting at shortstop Tuesday for New York.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Expected back in 2-to-5 days
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Lindor said Monday that he expects to return to the lineup within the next 2-to-5 days after an MRI on his back revealed no structural damage, SNY.tv reports.
Lindor said a specific timetable will "depend on how my back reacts," but he expects to be back before the end of the regular season. The shortstop exited two of the last three games and didn't play at all in the other contest because of a nagging back problem. He is out of the lineup again Monday versus the Nationals, but he's optimistic that he'll return at some point later this week. Jose Iglesias will start at shortstop for the series opener against the Nationals.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Not in Monday's lineup
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Lindor (back) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Lindor is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his back after renewed soreness forced his exit from Sunday's game versus the Phillies. There's no word yet on the results of that exam, but he will miss at least one more start. Jose Iglesias is at shortstop and batting leadoff for the Mets.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Heading for MRI
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Lindor (back) said after Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Phillies that he will undergo an MRI on Monday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The 30-year-old had been playing through some back problems for a couple weeks before he aggravated the injury Friday. He returned to the lineup Sunday, only to be removed after playing just one and a half innings. Lindor should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus Washington.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Departs early Sunday
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Lindor (back) was removed from Sunday's game against the Phillies due to back discomfort, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Lindor rejoined the lineup after a one-game absence due to lower-back soreness and singled to lead off the game, but he never quite looked comfortable and was replaced in the field for the bottom of the second inning. The 30-year-old should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus the Nationals. Luisangel Acuna has replaced him at shortstop.
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Mets' Francisco Lindor: Back in action Sunday
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Linder (back) is in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. He will start at shortstop and bat leadoff.
The 30-year-old sat out Saturday's contest after leaving Friday's game due to lower-back soreness, but he hit in the batting cage Sunday and has been cleared to rejoin the lineup. Lindor has a .912 OPS with three home runs and two steals through 11 games in September as he and Shohei Ohtani continue to push each other in the race for National League MVP.
