MIAMI — Francisco Lindor is open to any working theories.
Not that he’s ready to place this in the “slow start” category just yet — the calendar hasn’t even turned to April — but the Mets shortstop didn’t exactly build momentum by going hitless in three games to begin the season.
Only exacerbating the situation, the Mets were held to five runs for the series in losing two of three games to the Astros.
That included getting one-hit in Saturday’s series finale.
Lindor’s history of slow starts — he has underperformed early in the season for most of his Mets career — only raises questions if he is headed on that track again.
How can Lindor avoid such a start?
“That is a fantastic question,” he said. “I’m sure everyone is asking that and everyone is trying to figure that out. I’m right there with everyone. It’s I don’t know.”
Lindor, who went 0-for-11 in the series, was only one component of the Mets’ sluggish output.
Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos were also quiet in the series, as only Juan Soto (who reached base seven times, including a homer) left an imprint.
“I had a couple of at-bats where I hit the ball right at people,” Lindor said. “So just continue to work and grind and hopefully this is not a monthlong thing.”
Lindor said he was satisfied with the number of at-bats he received in spring training and he left camp believing he was set for the season, even with Grapefruit League numbers underwhelming.
Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated it’s too early to be concerned.
“Three games,” Mendoza said. “Every game he had at least one or two quality at-bats and some balls were hit hard [Saturday].”
In the series, Lindor, Alonso, Nimmo and Vientos were a combined 4-for-42, hardly the kind of start the Mets could have anticipated after unveiling Soto in the lineup for the first time.
Lindor owned a .616 OPS on May 20 last season before beginning his turnaround.
The jump start began after he was moved up to leadoff. Lindor had an OPS above .800 for the remainder of the season and finished second in the National League MVP voting.
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Lindor also endured a slow start in 2023 before turning around his season in June.
In 2021, his first season with the club after arriving in a trade with Cleveland, he struggled for most of the first half before surging after the All-Star break.
There is no reason for the Mets, who begin a three-game series against the Marlins on Monday, to fret just yet.
If there is anything that can get a lineup going, it’s three games against the depleted Marlins — although the Mets are scheduled to face Miami’s ace, Sandy Alcántara, on Tuesday.
Lindor has other considerations: his wife Katia is due to deliver the couple’s third child (and first boy) on April 9. But there is a good chance the baby will arrive early.
The shortstop was asked if it’s difficult to stay focused on baseball as he awaits his son’s arrival.
“It’s life, you know?” Lindor said. “I am sure I am not the only one going through it, so there are no excuses. There was no baby last year and I was in the same spot, so it’s not my kid’s fault.”
