Mets get ‘best news,’ Lindor expected back soon
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Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff Writer
NEW YORK — Shortstop Francisco Lindor said he “should be back” before the regular season ends after an MRI exam on his lower back Monday revealed no structural damage, a huge relief for a New York Mets club jockeying for a playoff spot with less than two weeks remaining.
Lindor said he should start physical activity Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how his back feels. He estimated he could return to the Mets’ lineup in the next two to five days. He said he assumes he will have to manage and tolerate pain whenever he does return.
Lindor said the expectation was he would need a shot for the pain, but doctors decided it wasn’t necessary. He was instead prescribed pain medication.
“We’ll see how I wake up [Tuesday],” Lindor said. “If the trainers allow me to move, I’m going to come in and force their hands. But I respect their decision. I respect the way they go about things. We have one of the best training staffs in the league, so I’ll listen to their input.”
Without Lindor, the Mets turned to Jose Iglesias both at shortstop and in the leadoff spot in Monday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals. The 34-year-old veteran answered by continuing his astounding rebound campaign, going 2-for-4 with a two-out, RBI infield single in the eighth inning to tie the game. Two innings later, Starling Marte, who entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth, delivered the Mets’ 11th walk-off win of the season in a 2-1 decision.
Coupled with the Atlanta Braves‘ loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets have a one-game lead for the final National League wild card with 12 games remaining.
“It was a great team win,” said Iglesias, who didn’t play in the majors in 2023 and is batting .323 in 220 at-bats since getting called up from Triple-A in late May. “It was pretty special.”
How much longer the Mets will be without their leader for this all-important stretch remains unclear.
Lindor said back pain has hindered him in recent weeks, but it didn’t impact his availability until the Mets’ series at the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend. The discomfort forced him to leave Friday’s series opener early. He then missed Saturday’s game entirely — the first time he didn’t appear in a game this season. He led off Sunday’s game with a single, but he exited the game in the second inning. The Mets lost Saturday and Sunday after a blowout win Friday.
Lindor, 30, said he does not believe playing in Sunday’s game worsened the injury.
“I don’t think so because I felt fine,” Lindor said. “I felt good. It wasn’t like a freak accident where I just fell and [got] reinjured. It just got tight on me. So, I don’t think yesterday’s situation put me back. Next thing you know, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to stay on the field. When I can’t do what I love the most, which is play defense, that’s when I said something. I was a little timid taking ground balls.”
Lindor has been the engine in the club’s improbable turnaround from 11 games under .500 in late May as its leadoff hitter and defensive captain. Despite a woeful start to the season, which coaxed boos from home crowds, Lindor is batting .271 with 31 home runs, 27 stolen bases and an .836 OPS in 148 games while playing elite defense.
The consistent all-around performance, which has produced the highest fWAR and third-highest bWAR in the National League, spurred debate about Lindor possibly challenging Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP. But Ohtani was always considered the runaway favorite, and Lindor’s setback will all but squash his slim chances.
It could have been much worse. That’s what Mets manager Carlos Mendoza feared.
Lindor had missed six games over the past three seasons before not playing Saturday. For Lindor to not play Saturday and remove himself from Sunday’s game, Mendoza thought, it must have been a serious injury, the type of development that would have shattered the Mets’ season less than two weeks until the playoffs begin. But that didn’t happen. So, the Mets still have hope of not just reaching the postseason but of a deep October run with their best player on the field.
“I think we got the best news,” Mendoza said.
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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