Mets’ injury woes continue as Francisco Lindor goes on IL with strained oblique
PITTSBURGH — It’s been a crushing start to the second half for the Mets. Shortstop Francisco Lindor was placed on the injured list with a strained right oblique, the team announced Saturday.
Lindor said he has a Grade 2 oblique strain. The timeline for his return is unclear, but he is considered week-to-week.
He grabbed his side after a groundout against the Pirates on Friday night and left the game in the fifth inning. Lindor clarified that he actually felt the pain pop up in his previous at-bat before the groundout, on a swing that resulted in a foul ball. Though the Mets initially called Lindor’s injury right side soreness, their worst fears were confirmed on Saturday after he went for additional testing in Pittsburgh.
“This is the first time that something like this happened in my career,” a melancholy Lindor said on Saturday from PNC Park. “I don’t have any timetable. I would love to say that I’m day to day, but I’m not. This is more like week-to-week.”
Oblique strains typically take 4-8 weeks to heal, which would put Lindor’s return around the end of August at best. Depending on how long it will take him to recover, including potential rehab assignments to ramp back up, it’s possible the $341 million shortstop could be out for the rest of the regular season.
When asked how confident Lindor is that he will play again this season, he said: “Very confident. I’m not dead. I’m here. I’ll be back soon – God willing. If I go about it the right way, I should be back soon.”
Lindor departs for the IL slashing .228/.326/.376 with a .702 OPS, 11 home runs, 36 RBI, eight stolen bases and 49 runs scored through his first 87 games and 311 at-bats for the Mets. He was one of the three position players, alongside Dominic Smith and James McCann, who remained healthy through the first half of the regular season.
“Francisco is in unbelievable shape,” said Mets manager Luis Rojas, who did not want to commit to even a soft timeline on his shortstop’s return. “He works really hard in the offseason and every day to stay in great shape. So let’s see how he responds.”
The Mets just cannot keep everyone healthy at the same time. They finally had all eight of their Opening Day position players back Friday, when J.D. Davis returned from the IL, and it lasted for all of one day. The Amazin’s haven’t had all eight of their starters in the lineup together since May 1. They dealt with that adversity by holding onto a first-place lead since May 8, using surprising and standout performances from backup players. Defensively, the Mets’ bench has big shoes to fill.
The team recalled infielder Travis Blankenhorn on Friday to replace Lindor on the roster, but it will need an additional reinforcement to cover ground for at least the next month. In some ways, the timing worked out in the Mets’ favor. With the July 30 trade deadline less than two weeks away, the Mets can potentially add an elite shortstop to their mix. For example, Rockies shortstop Trevor Story becomes a free agent at the end of the year, and he could fill in for Lindor for 1-2 months, then shift to third or second base if and when Lindor returns from the oblique strain.
In the interim, Rojas will depend on in-house options in Luis Guillorme, Jonathan Villar and Jose Peraza to start at shortstop for Lindor. Guillorme received the nod on Saturday against the Pirates, and the skipper said he views Guillorme as the best defender at that position out of the trio.
“We have three guys that can immediately come in and play short for us,” Rojas said. “We’re covered there.”
