ATLANTA — It turned out to be merely a theoretical Mets lineup, but it was an encouraging one for the club.
After missing eight straight games with lower back discomfort, Francisco Lindor was penciled in atop the order and at shortstop before Wednesday’s faceoff against the Braves at Truist Park was postponed.
“He was feeling good today, so that’s why he was in the lineup,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after storms and Hurricane Helene pushed the series to a potential doubleheader Monday conclusion. “He’s going to work out, hit in the cages, move around, see how he continues to progress.”
Mendoza said he can envision the couple days break, the Mets not playing until Friday in Milwaukee, as a positive for Lindor, who has played in 1 ½ innings since his back began ailing on Sept. 13.
He attempted to play Sept. 15, was quickly pulled when it became apparent he could not, and has attempted to work his way back since.
Lindor was in the on-deck circle when Tuesday’s loss to the Braves ended, set to pinch hit if the game continued.
The team’s rock, who had played in the club’s first 147 games this season, underwent a bone scan earlier in the week that reconfirmed there isn’t any structural damage to the back, but neither the player nor the team has provided a diagnosis.
Lindor has said that whenever he returns, he would have to play through pain. He has moved around gingerly since sustaining the injury upon overrunning second base on a double after not sliding into the bag.
With Lindor at shortstop and Jose Iglesias at second base, Wednesday’s theoretical lineup did not include Luisangel Acuña, who has stepped up without Lindor and hit .375 in 10 games.
Also not in Wednesday’s lineup was Brandon Nimmo.
Mendoza said the outfielder is fine, but he wanted to load up the order with righty bats against Chris Sale, who has held lefty hitters to a .544 OPS this season.
The struggling J.D. Martinez had been penciled in at designated hitter, Tyrone Taylor in left field and Harrison Bader in center.
Ronald Acuña Jr., who for the first time watched his little brother up close play in the major leagues on Tuesday, said he was “so proud” that Luisangel has made it.
“It’s a dream come true for me and our whole family,” Ronald, who was the 2023 MVP and who tore his ACL in May, said through an interpreter. “Seeing my brother play against us, it’s weird. It almost causes nerves because he’s at bat and you want him to do well, but you don’t want him to do well against us.
“It’s very conflicting emotions, but it’s great.”
