Club still deciding whether Lindor will need a rehab assignment
Francisco Lindor is clearing all of his hurdles as he continues his rehab from a right oblique strain. On Saturday afternoon, he took batting practice on back-to-back days for the first time since being injured last month. Mets manager Luis Rojas called the session “a big step” for Lindor as the switch hitter swung from the left side and looked comfortable in the field.
The next benchmark for the Mets’ $341 million shortstop will be one of his final steps before he can join the team. Lindor will soon face live pitching — whether that’s simulated or in the box against a pitcher — but the team does not yet have a time or a place for when that will happen.
Lindor has expressed that he would like to skip a rehab assignment, if possible, and join the Mets lineup straightaway once the team’s performance staff is satisfied with his progress. The Mets are “considering all options” to test his health, a source said, and are still undecided whether Lindor can forgo a rehab assignment with a minor league team.
“He looked really good. Felt good,” Rojas said. “And he was driving the ball. So these are some of the things that he’s going to start getting out of the way just from a mental and physical standpoint. He went out today, and he felt better and better. He was taking some good hacks out there.”
While the Mets wait for Lindor’s return date to come into focus, they are struggling with their shortstop depth. Javier Baez (back spasms), Luis Guillorme
(hamstring strain), Jose Peraza (fractured finger) and Lindor are all on the IL, leaving starting shortstop duties to Jonathan Villar.
In an event that Villar is unable to play, the Mets’ backup shortstops are Brandon Drury, Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis, in that order. Rojas said he has already spoken to Drury about playing shortstop in a pinch, and he feels comfortable relying on the veteran infielder as a starter. In 496 career games, Drury has appeared at short just nine times.
Drew Smith goes on IL: Mets reliever Drew Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation Saturday before the Mets’ game against the Dodgers. It’s a huge blow to the Mets bullpen, as Smith departs with a 2.40 ERA
across 31 relief appearances and 41 innings. Rojas typically relies on Smith in high-leverage situations and the righty, two years removed from Tommy John surgery, has shown he can rise to the challenge.
Other Mets roster moves on Saturday included outfielder Albert Almora Jr. being sent down to Triple A and righthanders Geoff Hartlieb and Jake Reed being called up from Syracuse.
Sunday start for Carrasco: Carlos Carrasco will make his fourth start for the Mets on Sunday since coming off the IL with his pesky hamstring strain. The veteran righthander will against Max Scherzer, whom the Mets inquired about at the trade deadline, but the former Nationals pitcher had no interest in joining an NL East rival team