The New York Mets are getting one star back but might be losing another. Francisco Lindor is finally set to return from a strained left calf that’s kept him out since April 22, and he’ll play in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. That’s the good news.
The bad news? Juan Soto’s back is barking, and the team isn’t shutting the door on an injured list stint.
According to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Lindor will be activated for the nightcap at Citi Field. The shortstop has missed 10 games since the injury flared up, and the Mets have felt his absence in a lineup that’s already thin.
Lindor wasn’t exactly lighting it up before he got hurt. Through 24 games, he’s hitting .226 with a .314 on-base percentage, two homers and five RBIs in 93 at-bats. But even a slightly below-average Lindor is better than most alternatives, and his defense alone makes a difference for a team that’s dead last in the NL East.
As for Soto, the situation is murkier. Mendoza told Castillo the team will evaluate the outfielder Wednesday before deciding whether to put him on the IL. Soto is not expected to play in either game of the doubleheader.
“Carlos Mendoza didn’t rule out Juan Soto going on the injured list with his back issue,” Castillo reported. “That will be determined after he’s evaluated today.”
That’s a problem for a Mets team that has leaned heavily on Soto. He’s been one of the few consistent bats in the order, slashing .299/.395 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs across 66 hits. If he goes on the shelf, even for a minimum 10-day stint, the Mets are basically asking their remaining hitters to carry a lineup that’s already struggling to score runs.
The timing stinks too. The doubleheader itself is a grind, and the Mets are already running on fumes. Lindor’s return helps, but if Soto hits the IL, New York is essentially trading one problem for another.
Mendoza said a decision on Soto will come after Wednesday’s evaluation. For now, the Mets will take whatever good news they can get — and hope the back issue doesn’t turn into something that lingers.
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