Francisco Lindor’s dangerous again has stored 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 informed reporters (together with MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo) that he obtained a side joint injection on Thursday, which was meant to assist quell or a minimum of scale back the again discomfort that Lindor had been making an attempt to play by means of for many of September previous to this latest shutdown interval.
“I’m making an attempt to do no matter it takes to come back again as quickly as I can,” Lindor stated. “With out [the injection]…it didn’t really feel like I may get again sooner moderately than later. With the injection, they stated there was a chance that may occur. I imagine within the trainers. I belief them, what the enter is. And we went and acquired it accomplished.”
The preliminary outcomes of the injection are encouraging, as Lindor stated he was in a position to bend over to tie his sneakers with out feeling any ache on Friday. He was additionally in a position to participate in some restricted baseball actions resembling a batting apply, and a wider vary of exercises are slated for at this time. It isn’t solely out of the query that Lindor may even play in at this time’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 making an attempt to be cautious in making an attempt to forestall any higher 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 document 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 a better wild card place. The Mets’ destiny would possibly hinge on a crucial three-game set in Atlanta starting on Tuesday, and the membership would clearly like to have Lindor accessible for that de facto playoff collection.
One other late-season reinforcement may additionally emerge for the Mets in time for his or her final collection of the common season, after which doubtlessly into the playoffs. Kodai Senga will make a rehab begin for Triple-A Syracuse at this time, 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 informed reporters (together with the New York Submit’s Mike Puma), ought to Senga emerge in good condition from that rehab outing, he may work as an opener in some unspecified time in the future through the Mets’ collection with the Brewers that begins on Friday.
“These conditions are at all times fluid,” Stearns famous, and Mendoza stated that Senga may doubtlessly work in additional of a standard reduction position than in working as an opener. Figuring out of the bullpen would possibly 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 additionally it is truthful to marvel if New York would even really feel snug 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. September 25 is the earliest date that Senga will be activated, and pitching at this time for Syracuse ought to line him up for a possible journey to a giant 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 a substitute been a digital non-factor within the 2024 marketing campaign, although is could be very intriguing to contemplate what a bullpen model of Senga may convey to New York in its playoff chase and maybe in October. If nothing else, getting again to motion would offer some consolation for Senga heading into 2025.
