Francisco Lindor’s unhealthy again has saved him out of the Mets’ lineup for every of the workforce’s final 5 video games, however the star shortstop is displaying some optimistic indicators of restoration. Lindor advised reporters (together with MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo) that he obtained a aspect 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 via for many of September previous to this current shutdown interval.
“I’m making an attempt 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 might get again sooner moderately than later. With the injection, they mentioned there was a risk that may occur. I imagine within the trainers. I belief them, what the enter is. And we went and obtained it executed.”
The preliminary outcomes of the injection are encouraging, as Lindor mentioned he was in a position to bend over to tie his footwear with out feeling any ache on Friday. He was additionally ready to participate in some restricted baseball actions akin to a batting apply, and a wider vary of exercises are slated for Saturday. It isn’t solely out of the query that Lindor might even play in at the moment’s recreation with the Phillies (most likely as a chosen hitter as a way 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 stop 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 the next wild-card place. The Mets’ destiny would possibly 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 collection.
One other late-season reinforcement might 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 Saturday 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 Publish’s Mike Puma), ought to Senga emerge in fine condition from that rehab outing, he might work as an opener sooner or later in the course of the Mets’ collection with the Brewers that begins on Friday.
“These conditions are all the time fluid,” Stearns famous, and Mendoza mentioned that Senga might doubtlessly work in additional of a conventional aid 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 recreation, although it’s also truthful to surprise if New York would even really feel comfy 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 recreation again, Senga suffered a extreme left calf pressure that instantly despatched him again to the 60-day injured checklist. Sept. 25 is the earliest date that Senga will be activated, and pitching Saturday for Syracuse ought to line him up for a possible journey to a big-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 12 months 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 it is vitally intriguing to think about what a bullpen model of Senga might deliver 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.
