Mets unsure of nature of Francisco Lindor's back injury, Carlos Mendoza says
The Mets’ Francisco Lindor looks on from the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies during an MLB game at Citi Field on Sunday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
ATLANTA — Additional testing yielded no real answers about Francisco Lindor’s back injury, Lindor and manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday.
Lindor had a bone scan Monday. It was “clean,” according to Mendoza. That ruled out potentially serious issues but did not clarify what is actually wrong with Lindor, who was out of the lineup for an eighth consecutive game as the Mets opened a pivotal series against Atlanta with a 5-1 loss.
Lindor was due to pinch hit in the ninth inning had the Mets extended the game one more batter. He “could be in play” for Wednesday, Mendoza said.
The Mets, though, are unsure of the nature of the injury.
“Back issues, they could be tricky, man,” Mendoza said. “But we wanted to make sure that every test that is available, we want to make sure that we’re not missing anything. And everything comes back clean. Hopefully it clicks, the medicine and whatever we’re doing, and hopefully he’s a player for us pretty soon.”
Lindor said while wearing a large heating pad: “The MRI showed no structural damage, it’s just pain. Let’s check out the bones and there’s no damage there. For me, then it’s like, all right, it’s just pain. I gotta find a way to let go.”
Getting the pain to “let go” is the key to returning, Lindor added. He knows he will have to play at something less than full strength. But he can’t return if he is in constant pain. Fleeting pain? Sure, that might be workable.
“If there’s pain and the pain stays, that’s not going to be good. For me, it’s more important that the pain comes and then goes, it lets go,” Lindor said. “Feeling 100% or 70% or 50% of myself [is not the most important variable]. As long as the pain comes and I take a second and I can go back again to do something, that’s more important.”
Lindor’s workout pregame Tuesday included several rounds of batting practice — more than in the days prior — during which he looked close to normal. But he appeared to be moving gingerly as he stretched, ran the bases briefly and put on his shoes.
Afterward, Lindor huddled up with four athletic trainer types, then went to talk to Mendoza and team owner Steve Cohen. Before the workout, Lindor did not rule out entering the game off the bench.
“That’s the one thing from Francisco: He’s going to be very honest with us,” Mendoza said. “He’s not going to put himself at risk. He’s not going to put the team at risk. So whenever he’ll tell us ‘I’m a player for you,’ we have a decision there.”
Lindor’s bone scan came about a week after an MRI and CT scan that also showed no issues. In between, he received a facet injection into his spine.
Might Lindor get another shot?
“I don’t know,” Lindor said. “Last time, they said the pain should be gone and it’s not. It hasn’t really worked.”
Weather watch
The Mets and Atlanta faced significant uncertainty regarding the rest of this series — 7:20 p.m. starts Wednesday and Thursday — because of impending rain.
The forecast for the Atlanta area called for thunderstorms beginning around 1 p.m. Wednesday and continuing all day. On Thursday, parts of Tropical Storm Helene were set to reach the area.
MLB had not announced any contingency plans as of Tuesday evening. One Mets official said the parties were set on leaving the start times — not moving them up to try to avoid rain — due to ballpark logistical concerns, though that could change at any point.
One option: Making up a postponed game on Monday, a day between the regular season and postseason, if that game would impact the standings.
Cohens sighting
Cohen and his wife, Alex Cohen, arrived at Truist Park a couple of hours before first pitch, ready to help the team celebrate if they win a playoff spot this week.
Steve Cohen said his 50th high school reunion is set for Saturday — at Citi Field. But if that day might be the clincher for the Mets, he’ll be at the game.
“I’ve been to high school reunions,” he said. “I’ve never been doused with champagne.”
Martinez out again
J.D. Martinez, 0-for-his last 32, was out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. Mendoza said he spoke to Martinez at the start of this stretch to let him know he’d be sitting.
“I’m always going to keep everybody in the loop,” Mendoza said. “It’s not about Mendy, it’s not about J.D. in this case. It’s about putting the team in a position where we feel like he’s going to give us the best chance. And he understands that.”
Mendoza indicated that Martinez would be in the lineup at least one of the next two games, both started by lefthanders.
Rotation rejiggering
The Mets moved David Peterson up to Wednesdayand pushed Jose Quintana to Friday because the former gives the Mets a better chance to beat Atlanta, Mendoza said.
Quintana is riding a 22 2/3-inning scoreless streak.
“We’re looking at a lot of different things,” Mendoza said. “Peterson, even though he struggled last [time], he’s been throwing the ball really well. We decided going with these three was going to give us the best chance.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
