Francisco Lindor’s prayers have been answered. The New York shortstop received a glimmer of hope on Monday when he got the results from his lower back imaging. The MRI came back clean, offering a promising outlook, but he won’t be rushing back to the lineup just yet. While he’s targeting a return in 3 to 5 days, the timeline could be shortened if his back responds positively. For now, he’s focused on ensuring a full recovery and making sure he’s back at his best when he steps onto the field again.  

With his back flaring up, Francisco Lindor took an unexpected break on Saturday in Philadelphia, marking his first missed game of the season. Despite a swift return to the lineup the very next day, Lindor’s comeback was short-lived. He was forced to exit the game in the bottom of the second inning, unable to handle the demands of running to first base and performing his defensive duties.  

Francisco Lindor pushes for a return despite soreness in the back

As they arrived on the city field on Monday, the Mets had 13 games remaining. “The best-case scenario would be playing against the nationals but I don’t know how realistic that is. Will see how I react and if the trainers allow me to move I am going to force the house but I respect the decision and the way they go about things” Lindor told the New York Post. Lindor didn’t sugarcoat it: his back has been a persistent issue for over a week, with the pain intensifying after running the bases on Friday night. “I am expecting [discomfort] to last the rest of the year, but it’s going to be manageable,” Lindor said. 

“I think it’s going to be [Tuesday] I wake up sore, but not as bad and it’s going to be something like that the rest of the year.” Lindor further added, reportedly opting for oral painkillers instead of injections. Carlos Mendoza, manager of the New York Mets, feared for the worst as the MRI exam was due. “For Linda to be not in the line and then be in the lineup and come out of the game after one inning is pretty tough because I know how hard and how this guy is,” he said. Lindor was asked if it was possible the back worsened because he tried to play Sunday, he replied, “I don’t think so, because I felt fine, I felt good.”

Lindor added, “And it wasn’t like a freak accident, where it just felt like, ‘Oh, I reinjured it.’ It just got tight on me so I don’t think [Sunday’s] situation put me back, I just felt like I could play through it and the next thing you know I didn’t feel comfortable enough to stay on the field.” He added. The Mets began the day tied with Atlanta for the NL’s third wild card, and Mendoza didn’t want his team to lose sight of the big picture with their MVP candidate sidelined. With Francisco Lindor sidelined by back issues, Monday’s lineup saw some fresh faces in key positions.  

Team navigates lineup adjustments in Lindor’s absence

Jose Iglesias stepped in at shortstop, while Eddy Alvarez took over at second base, adding a spark to the infield. Over the weekend, Luisangel Acuña had been filling in at shortstop, as he took on the bulk of the innings in Lindor’s absence. Monday night, Iglesias, atop the lineup, hit an RBI infield single off the glove of reliever Derek Law with two outs in the eighth. This wasn’t a one-time thing; he’s been clutch all season. In a tense 2-1 game that went into extra innings, he came through big time by driving in the run that tied the game in the eighth inning. This added to his impressive track record of delivering when it counts most.

Basically, when the game’s on the line, he is whom you want up at bat. Prospect Luisangel Acuña made his mark by starting at shortstop on Saturday, stepping in for Lindor in the second inning. However, manager Mendoza had other plans in mind for the game against Jake Irvin. Eager to add some balance to the lineup, Mendoza decided to slot in another left-handed bat to face the right-hander. So, he began Eddy Alvarez at second base and moved Iglesias to shortstop. “He’s played shortstop pretty much all his career. I feel really good with him there,” Mendoza said, emphasizing his confidence in Acuña while noting, “Acuña is going to get playing time as well. We feel good with Alvarez at second base. Just playing the matchups as much as possible.”

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Iglesias has been a revelation this season. He’s still got plenty in him after spending all of last year in the minor leagues. Iglesias has turned back the clock, proving he’s far from finished. Since his call-up on May 31, Iglesias has been a game-changer, with a slash line of .323/.372/.436 and a solid .808 OPS. He’s enjoying his best offensive season in his 12-year MLB career. But there’s been a lingering doubt about Iglesias: his defense. In recent years, his range had been slipping, raising concerns about his ability to cover ground effectively.

Will Iglesias be able to fill Lindor’s shoes in his absence? Share what you think in the comments below.