Francisco Lindor’s unhealthy again has saved him out of the Mets’ lineup for every of the staff’s final 5 video games, however the star shortstop is exhibiting some optimistic indicators of restoration. Lindor advised reporters (together with MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo) that he obtained a side 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 way of for many of September previous to this latest shutdown interval.
“I’m attempting to do no matter it takes to come back again as quickly as I can,” Lindor mentioned. “With out [the injection]…it didn’t really feel like I may get again sooner quite than later. With the injection, they mentioned there was a risk that may occur. I consider within the trainers. I belief them, what the enter is. And we went and acquired it performed.”
The preliminary outcomes of the injection are encouraging, as Lindor mentioned 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 equivalent to a batting apply, and a wider vary of exercises are slated for right this moment. It isn’t completely out of the query that Lindor may even play in right this moment’s recreation with the Phillies (in all probability as a chosen hitter in an effort 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 higher harm.
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 may hinge on a important three-game set in Atlanta starting on Tuesday, and the membership would clearly like to have Lindor obtainable for that de facto playoff sequence.
One other late-season reinforcement may additionally emerge for the Mets in time for his or her final sequence of the common season, after which probably into the playoffs. Kodai Senga will make a rehab begin for Triple-A Syracuse right this moment, and is about 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 Put up’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’ sequence with the Brewers that begins on Friday.
“These conditions are at all times fluid,” Stearns famous, and Mendoza mentioned that Senga may probably work in additional of a standard aid function 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 recreation, although it’s also honest 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 harm delayed Senga’s 2024 debut till July 26, and within the right-hander’s very first recreation again, Senga suffered a extreme left calf pressure that instantly despatched him again to the 60-day injured record. September 25 is the earliest date that Senga might be activated, and pitching right this moment 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 yr 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 12 months 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 is may be very intriguing to think about what a bullpen model of Senga may 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.
