LOS ANGELES — The Mets can by no means appear to flee the Los Angeles Dodgers with a full, wholesome crew.
Francisco Lindor was out of the lineup Thursday for the collection finale with a damaged toe. The star shortstop and leadoff hitter was hit by a slider from right-hander Tony Gonsolin within the first inning of Wednesday evening’s 6-1 win, with the pitch breaking his proper pinky toe. He performed the remainder of the sport and insisted to supervisor Carlos Mendoza that he can be nice to play Thursday, however the skipper determined to take a seat him after X-rays confirmed a fracture.
“It’s not a surgical thing,” Lindor mentioned Thursday morning at Dodger Stadium. “It’s just a matter of tolerating the pain.”
A key chief within the lineup, on the sector and within the clubhouse, Lindor was in appreciable ache Wednesday evening, however awakened Thursday morning with much less. Nevertheless, one he placed on a shoe, it grew to become clear that he wouldn’t be capable of play.
He’s thought-about day-to-day, and whereas Lindor himself didn’t rule out an injured record stint, Mendoza mentioned he didn’t assume that might be obligatory.
“The [trainers] were telling me that if he would have got the joint, then it would be something more serious,” Mendoza mentioned. “But this is something that he’s going to have to deal with. We’re giving him today [off], but knowing him, he’s going to continue to fight.”
The Mets haven’t dominated out the opportunity of utilizing him off the bench in opposition to the Dodgers, but it surely’s unlikely.
Lindor doesn’t like taking days off. He declined paternity go away when his youngest two children had been born, he performed via a fractured finger on his throwing hand in 2022 and he begged the Mets to let him play via again ache final September when the Mets had been within the thick of a heated race for a playoff spot.
“This is going to be a conversation after every day,” Mendoza mentioned. “Even last night, going back to the hotel on the bus, he was fighting. He wanted to be in the lineup. I was like, ‘You’re not going to be in the lineup tomorrow,’ he said, ‘Give me until tomorrow morning.’ I said, ‘OK, I’m going give it until tomorrow morning, but the answer is going to be the same.’ That’s what makes him who he is.”
The harm ought to heal in about six weeks, and Lindor will play via as a lot as he can. Nevertheless, Lindor doesn’t need to go away the crew shorthanded. The Mets have gained the final 27 video games wherein he’s homered, he’s tied for the crew lead with 14 and he’s tied for the crew lead with 11 stolen bases. Lindor is the engine that makes the Mets’ lineup go, and he’s the sector common of kinds, serving to younger infielders with positioning.
“It’s not fun for me,” Lindor mentioned of watching from the bench. “It’s fun to watch the boys, but I want to participate as well. So I’ll be there supporting them, and hopefully I can get back in there soon.”
Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña will play shortstop if his absence is extended, with Acuña getting the beginning in opposition to the Dodgers.
Acuña has been used principally off the bench in current weeks, hitting simply .130 over his final 15 video games, however extra constant taking part in time might assist him get going once more. Mauricio continues to be searching for his first large league hit since 2023.
A high prospect within the group, Mauricio, now 24, was referred to as up Tuesday to take the place of Mark Vientos on the roster after the third baseman strained a hamstring operating out of the field the evening prior.
The Mets generally like to present gamers coping with harm a DH day as a method to give them a half of a workday, however Lindor doesn’t see a lot of a distinction.
“If I’m good enough to hit and run, I should be good enough to play shortstop,” Lindor mentioned. “But at the end of the day, like I said, I trust the trainers and then whatever they think it’s going to be best, we’ll go with that.”
ALUMNI GAME SET FOR SEPTEMBER
The Mets are internet hosting a three-inning alumni sport Sept. 13 forward of their contest in opposition to the Texas Rangers. Willie Randolph and Bobby Valentine will co-manage the Shea Stadium crew, whereas Terry Collins and Jerry Manuel co-manage the Citi Discipline crew. Over 40 former gamers and managers will return for the occasion, together with Corridor-of-Famers Mike Piazza, Pedro Martínez and Billy Wagner.
