ATLANTA — Francisco Lindor stood in the on-deck circle Tuesday night, ready to pinch-hit in the ninth inning, but the game ended before he got his chance.
But Lindor's readiness to return, albeit perhaps in a limited role, with the Mets was the most positive sign of the past week and a half.
“Let's see how he feels. [Wednesday] “He could be available,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the team's 5-1 loss to the Braves at Truist Park.
He entered as a pinch hitter, but the game ended before he got a chance as the Mets lost, 5–1.
Braves, Sept. 24, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Lindor spent part of his day off on Monday undergoing a bone scan, which reassured him there was no structural damage to his lower back.
But that doesn't change the fact that the Mets shortstop is still in pain.
He was so sick that he was left out of the starting lineup for seven straight games when the Mets began their penultimate series of the regular season.
Lindor had his abdomen bandaged before the game and tested his back during pregame practice.
Lindor's time on the field was short, as he sprinted from first base to third base before leaving through the dugout tunnel.
Lindor returned to the field and took batting practice at both ends of the plate.
Mendoza said Lindor was taking swings at the batting cages during the game, and discussions immediately began about where he would fit into the batting order as a pinch hitter.
He was scheduled to bat in place of Tyrone Taylor in the ninth inning, but Raisel Iglesias got Mark Vientos out and Lindor came in to pinch hit.
“We were going through some scenarios with him the last few innings,” Mendoza said. “He was good enough to play today.”
Before the game, Lindor indicated he would be willing to be a bench player if needed.
“I'm moving in the right direction,” he said.
Lindor underwent an MRI and CT scan last week, both of which came back normal.
However, neither the player nor the team have announced the diagnosis of the illness.
Lindor underwent a joint-surface injection in his back last week in hopes of easing the pain, and while he said he's made progress on that front, he's not yet ready to play.
“At first I called it back spasms,” Lindor said.
He said a bone scan was done to rule out the possibility that pushing too hard could make the problem worse.
Lindor indicated that if healthy, he could be used as a DH before returning to the full-time role.
“If the team decides that's what's best for me and the team, then I'd certainly be in that position,” Lindor said. “If they decide that coming off the bench is what's best for the team and for me, then I'll do that.”
Lindor has said he doesn't need to be 100 percent physically to return and has previously suggested he plans to play through some pain for the remainder of the season.
The key, Lindor said, is pain that comes and goes for a split second.
“It's not good to have pain and have it continue,” Lindor said. “For me it's more important that the pain comes and goes, so I can take a break and get back on my feet and do something. That's more important.”
