Francisco Lindor’s impressive performance offers a positive note in the Mets’ recent defeat

Francisco Lindor Begins to Find His Form

Francisco Lindor might be hitting his stride. For the first time since late July, he achieved consecutive multi-hit games. On Thursday, during a 4-3 loss at Citifield, the Mets’ shortstop notched two hits.

“I’m getting a barrel for the baseball,” he remarked. “There’s a lot of people in the hit group working for me, and that’s important. Just try to ride the upswing as much as possible while staying true to yourself.”

It’s been a challenging month for him. Despite a strong start earlier in the season, winning .628 OPS in June and .629 in July, his performance dipped.

His recent uptick in production is encouraging for the struggling Mets, who have recently dropped 13 of their last 15 games.

Mark Vientos Faces an Uncertain Situation

Mark Vientos, on the other hand, is in a peculiar position. He sat on the bench for the fourth straight game on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ronny Mauricio and Starling Marte have both started multiple games recently, and Brett Batty has been playing almost daily.

“There’s a healthy competition going on,” coach Carlos Mendoza explained. “We have three players for one spot, or arguably four excellent players sharing two DH spots. Things can change quickly. I’ve seen stretches where Brett didn’t play for five games, but now he’s getting his chance. Marte’s also been a reminder that everyone needs to be ready.”

This season has been frustrating for Vientos, a standout contributor during the Mets’ NLCS run last year. He had 27 home runs and .837 OPS last season but has struggled in his sophomore year, hitting only seven home runs in 291 at-bats and standing at 22-4 in August. Since May 28, he’s managed just one home run.

Clay Holmes’ Role Remains Secure

Mendoza also reassured that Clay Holmes’ position in the rotation isn’t in jeopardy despite his recent inconsistency. Against the Braves on Tuesday, Holmes allowed six hits and five runs over three innings, failing to hold a lead. This marked his second start in which he didn’t make it past the fourth inning.