Francisco Lindor’s dangerous again has saved him out of the Mets’ lineup for every of the staff’s final 5 video games, however the star shortstop is displaying some constructive indicators of restoration. Lindor advised 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 scale 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 return again as quickly as I can,” Lindor mentioned. “With out [the injection]…it didn’t really feel like I might get again sooner reasonably than later. With the injection, they mentioned 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 mentioned he was capable of bend over to tie his sneakers with out feeling any ache on Friday. He was additionally ready to participate in some restricted baseball actions reminiscent of a batting apply, and a wider vary of exercises are slated for Saturday. It isn’t solely out of the query that Lindor might even play in as we speak’s sport with the Phillies (most likely as a delegated hitter to be able 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 better damage.
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 file 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 the next wild-card place. The Mets’ destiny may hinge on a essential three-game set in Atlanta starting on Tuesday, and the membership would clearly like to have Lindor obtainable for that de facto playoff collection.
One other late-season reinforcement might additionally emerge for the Mets in time for his or her final collection of the common season after which probably into the playoffs. Kodai Senga will make a rehab begin for Triple-A Syracuse Saturday and is ready 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 advised reporters (together with the New York Post’s Mike Puma), ought to Senga emerge in fine condition from that rehab outing, he might work as an opener sooner or later in the course of the Mets’ collection with the Brewers that begins on Friday.
“These conditions are all the time fluid,” Stearns famous, and Mendoza mentioned that Senga might probably work in additional of a conventional aid position than in working as an opener. Figuring out of the bullpen may 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 sport, although it is usually honest to marvel if New York would even really feel comfy having Senga on a playoff roster contemplating that he has barely pitched all season.
A capsule pressure and a triceps damage delayed Senga’s 2024 debut till July 26, and within the right-hander’s very first sport again, Senga suffered a extreme left calf pressure that instantly despatched him again to the 60-day injured listing. Sept. 25 is the earliest date that Senga might be activated, and pitching Saturday for Syracuse ought to line him up for a possible journey to a big-league mound on Friday in Milwaukee.
Senga was one of many tales of the 2023 season, as his first 12 months 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 an alternative been a digital non-factor within the 2024 marketing campaign, although it is vitally 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 supply some consolation for Senga heading into 2025.
