Please cover your eyes.
Francisco Lindor’s stats are painful to look at.
And Mets fans are starting to hear it from him, too.
The star shortstop’s nightmarish early-season struggles are hard to believe considering his recent history of slow starts.
When the Mets played a doubleheader against the Tigers at Citi Field on Thursday, he went 0-for-8 with three strikeouts in a 6-3 loss in 11 innings and a 2-1 walk-off win.
Lindor has a brutal record this season, with one hit and six strikeouts in 24 at-bats.
His only hit this year was a single in the Mets’ 7-6 loss to the Brewers on March 30th.
This year, he only has two walks, so he hasn’t drawn a walk.
“It’s timing,” Lindor said after Game 2. Once you get the timing right, everything should be fine. ”
He was left vacant at a key point in Game 1.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, with the game tied at 3-3, Brandon Nimmo walked first and stole second base, giving Lindor the go-ahead run with no outs.
But Lindor struck out.
In Game 2, Nimmo took the lead with a walk in the first inning, reached base with one out in the third inning with another walk, and took the lead with another walk in the sixth inning.
However, Lindor was unable to send Nimmo to second base in any of his three chances, recording a popout, a strikeout, and a flyout, respectively.
Lindor put Harrison Bader on second base and had one last chance to get back on track late in the eighth inning, trailing 1-0.
However, Lindor struck out on three pitches and was booed by the few fans in attendance.
This is reminiscent of last year’s poor start, when he entered June with a batting average of .223.
But the way he bounced back last year gave him and coach Carlos Mendoza confidence they can succeed again.
“He’s one of the best players in the game,” Mendoza said. “Every player goes through periods like this. It happens in the first six games of the season, but he’ll be fine, he’ll move on. He’s a pretty good hitter.”
Lindor is far from alone.
Jeff McNeil started the season with 1 hit for 15 at bats and went 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts in Game 1.
He did not appear in the second game.
Nimmo has started with one hit in 21 at-bats, but he has at least reached base with a walk.
But Lindor believes the Mets’ ninth-inning rally in Game 2 could be contagious throughout the lineup.
“Sure,” Lindor said. “One hundred percent. The vibe is so contagious. The blows are contagious, so for sure. I believe in that.”
