Francisco Lindor is getting closer to returning to the Mets lineup, but the team isn’t rushing it. Manager Carlos Mendoza laid out the shortstop’s immediate rehab schedule on Saturday before New York’s game against the Phillies in Philadelphia.
Lindor will head to Syracuse on Sunday to play in another minor league rehab game with the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. He got Saturday off, then gets back on the field Sunday. After that, the Mets will figure out where he’s at physically and what comes next.
“He’s going to Syracuse tomorrow,” Mendoza said, via SNY Mets. “Off today and then he’s playing for Syracuse tomorrow. Then we will see where he’s at after Sunday.”
The caution is intentional. Lindor has only played 24 games this season thanks to a calf injury that’s already cost him months. A five-time All-Star and the heart of the Mets lineup, he’s the kind of player you don’t risk re-injuring just to get him back a few days sooner. The organization has been careful from the start, and that hasn’t changed.
Lindor’s absence has hurt. The Mets entered Saturday at 34-41, dead last in the NL East. They’re 13.5 games behind the Braves for the division lead. Getting their best position player back won’t fix everything overnight, but it gives them a real chance to play competitive baseball in the second half.
The 32-year-old shortstop was hitting .197 with six home runs and 18 RBIs before the injury. Not great numbers, but the Mets know he’s capable of more. So does Lindor. The rehab assignment is about getting his timing back and making sure the calf is fully healed.
New York won the first game of the series against Philadelphia on Thursday, 6-4. Game two is set for Saturday night at 7:15 PM EST. The Mets will be without Lindor for now, but the end of this recovery process is finally in sight.
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