ATLANTA — Francisco Lindor stood in the on-deck circle preparing to pinch hit in the ninth inning Tuesday night, but the game ended before he could get that chance.
But it was the most positive sign in 1 ½ weeks that Lindor is ready to return, even in perhaps a limited capacity for the Mets.
“Let’s see how he feels [Wednesday] and he could be in play,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the 5-1 loss to the Braves at Truist Park.
pinch hit, but the game ended before he had a chance in the Mets’ 5-1 loss to the
Braves on Sept. 24, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Lindor spent part of Monday’s off day receiving a bone scan he says reaffirmed there isn’t structural damage to his lower back.
But that doesn’t change the fact the Mets shortstop is still sore.
He’s uncomfortable enough that he was absent from the starting lineup for a seventh straight game, as the Mets began their penultimate series of the regular season.
Lindor wore a wrap around his midsection before the game and tested the back in pregame drills.
Lindor’s time on the field was short — he sprinted from first to third base — before he departed through the dugout tunnel.
Lindor reemerged and took batting practice from both sides of the plate.
Lindor took swings during the game in the indoor batting cage, according to Mendoza, and discussions were soon underway on where he might be plugged into the lineup as a pinch-hitter.
It was decided he would hit for Tyrone Taylor in the ninth, but Raisel Iglesias retired Mark Vientos for the third out with Lindor on deck.
“The last couple of innings I was going through a couple of scenarios with him,” Mendoza said. “He was good enough to play today.”
Before the game, Lindor had indicated he was hopeful he would be a bench player if needed.
“I’m trending in the right direction,” he said.
Last week Lindor received an MRI exam and CT scan that he says were both clean.
But neither the player nor team has provided a diagnosis of the ailment.
Lindor last week received a facet injection in his back with the hope it would alleviate the pain, but while Lindor says there has been progress on that front, it hasn’t been to the point he could play.
“Back spasms is what we called it at the beginning,” Lindor said.
The bone scan, he said, was performed to eliminate the possibility there is an issue that could worsen by pushing too hard.
Lindor indicated there is a possibility he could be used as a DH — if he is feeling well enough — before he returns as a full-time player.
“If the team feels that is the best thing for me and the team I’m sure that is where I will be,” Lindor said. “If coming off the bench is the best thing for the team and myself I will do that.”
Lindor said he doesn’t need to be 100 percent physically for a return — he previously indicated that he expects to play through some level of pain for the remainder of the season.
The key, according to Lindor, will be pain that occurs in a quick burst and then disappears.
“If there’s pain and the pain stays, that is not good,” Lindor said. “For me it’s more important that the pain comes and then goes … where I just take a second and then I can go back again and do something — that is more important.”
