Francisco Lindor’s dangerous again has saved him out of the Mets’ lineup for every of the group’s final 5 video games, however the star shortstop is displaying some optimistic indicators of restoration. Lindor instructed reporters (together with MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo) that he acquired a aspect joint injection on Thursday, which was meant to assist quell or not less than cut back the again discomfort that Lindor had been attempting to play by for many of September previous to this current shutdown interval.
“I’m attempting to do no matter it takes to come back again as quickly as I can,” Lindor stated. “With out [the injection]…it didn’t really feel like I might get again sooner moderately than later. With the injection, they stated there was a chance that may occur. I imagine within the trainers. I belief them, what the enter is. And we went and received it accomplished.”
The preliminary outcomes of the injection are encouraging, as Lindor stated he was in a position to bend over to tie his footwear with out feeling any ache on Friday. He was additionally ready to participate in some restricted baseball actions comparable to a batting follow, and a wider vary of exercises are slated for at the moment. It isn’t solely out of the query that Lindor might even play in at the moment’s recreation with the Phillies (most likely as a chosen hitter in an effort to restrict any further pressure on his again), however each Lindor and the Mets are naturally attempting to be cautious in attempting to forestall any higher harm.
Lacking Lindor at this significant time of the season has added much more drama to the Mets’ bid for a playoff berth, although New York has managed a 4-1 document within the MVP candidate’s absence. The 85-69 Mets maintain a two-game lead over the Braves for the final wild card spot, whereas additionally remaining not far behind the Diamondbacks (86-68) and Padres (88-66) for a better wild card place. The Mets’ destiny would possibly hinge on a vital three-game set in Atlanta starting on Tuesday, and the membership would clearly like to have Lindor obtainable for that de facto playoff sequence.
One other late-season reinforcement might additionally emerge for the Mets in time for his or her final sequence of the common season, after which doubtlessly into the playoffs. Kodai Senga will make a rehab begin for Triple-A Syracuse at the moment, and is about to throw a most of 35 pitches over one or two innings of labor. As each supervisor Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns instructed reporters (together with the New York Submit’s Mike Puma), ought to Senga emerge in good condition from that rehab outing, he might work as an opener sooner or later throughout the Mets’ sequence with the Brewers that begins on Friday.
“These conditions are at all times fluid,” Stearns famous, and Mendoza stated that Senga might doubtlessly work in additional of a standard reduction position than in working as an opener. Understanding of the bullpen would possibly higher place Senga for inclusion on a postseason roster as a result of (on paper) the Mets wouldn’t have want for an opener in a playoff recreation, although additionally it is truthful to marvel if New York would even really feel snug having Senga on a playoff roster contemplating that he has barely pitched all season.
A capsule pressure and a triceps harm delayed Senga’s 2024 debut till July 26, and within the right-hander’s very first recreation again, Senga suffered a extreme left calf pressure that instantly despatched him again to the 60-day injured record. September 25 is the earliest date that Senga might be activated, and pitching at the moment for Syracuse ought to line him up for a possible journey to an enormous league mound on Friday in Milwaukee.
Senga was one of many tales of the 2023 season, as his first yr in Main League Baseball resulted in a seventh-place end in NL Cy Younger Award voting and a runner-up spot within the NL Rookie of the Yr race. Anticipated to be the brand new cornerstone of the Mets’ rotation, Senga has as a substitute been a digital non-factor within the 2024 marketing campaign, although is may be very intriguing to contemplate what a bullpen model of Senga might deliver to New York in its playoff chase and maybe in October. If nothing else, getting again to motion would offer some consolation for Senga heading into 2025.
