Francisco Lindor Finally Looks Like Himself and the Mets Might Have a Pulse

The New York Mets have been a mess this season. That’s not really up for debate. They came into 2026 thinking they could hang with Atlanta and Philadelphia in the NL East. Instead they’ve limped to a 42-58 record, good for last place in the division. The pitching has been inconsistent. The defense has been sloppy. And the clutch hitting everyone expected? Basically nonexistent.

But on Sunday something actually clicked. The Mets beat the Phillies 6-1 and Francisco Lindor looked like the guy they paid all that money to four years ago.

Lindor missed a big chunk of the season with an injury and it showed. Coming into Sunday he was hitting just .205 with five homers and 12 RBI in 42 games. That’s not franchise shortstop production. That’s not even replacement level. And for a team already drowning, his absence and slow return have been brutal.

Then came Sunday. Lindor went 3-for-3 with two walks, a home run and two RBI. It was his first three-hit game of the season. He reached base five times. The Mets actually won a series against their rivals for once. It wasn’t a fluke either. Lindor looked comfortable at the plate in a way he hasn’t all year.

“It felt good to contribute,” Lindor told reporters, including MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. “It felt good to be part of the team and help the team win. Overall, a good day for me. Learn from it and turn the page and focus on who we have tomorrow.”

That’s the right thing to say. But there’s also a bigger question here: Is this a sign Lindor is finally healthy and back? Or just one good game in a lost season?

The Mets took two of three from Philadelphia and now head home to face Milwaukee, who leads the NL Central. That’s not an easy matchup. But if Lindor can string together a few more performances like Sunday, it changes how you think about this team going forward. Not enough to save the season probably. But enough to give fans something to watch.

Lindor said he’ll learn from it and turn the page. The Mets sure hope he does. Because when he’s right, he’s still one of the most dangerous players in the league. Sunday was a reminder of that. Now they need to see it again.