Francisco Lindor Is Down and the Mets' Season Is Already Falling Apart

The New York Mets just can't catch a break. On Thursday, they placed shortstop Francisco Lindor on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain, continuing what's become a brutal stretch for a team that looks completely unraveled right now. Lindor got hurt Wednesday during the Mets' first win in 12 games, and now they're scrambling just to field a roster.

The Timing Couldn't Be Worse

Lindor's injury came on the same day Juan Soto returned to the lineup after going down with his own calf injury way back on April 3 against the Giants. Think about that for a second. The Mets started the season 4-4 with Soto healthy, then lost 12 straight games and limped to Thursday with a brutal 8-16 record. Now they're dealing with injuries piling up on top of an already frustrated roster.

The bright spot? Lindor was actually heating up before he got hurt. Over his last nine games, he had 11 hits in 33 at-bats, raising his average from a rough .188 to .226. He had two hits in two at-bats on Wednesday before the calf tightness forced him out. The guy was finally finding his groove.

Ronny Mauricio Gets His Shot

To replace Lindor, the Mets called up Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse. The 25-year-old infielder is swinging a hot bat down there. He's batting .293 with an OPS of .987 for Syracuse and just crushed three home runs on Tuesday. In 58 at-bats in the minors this season, he's got six home runs, five stolen bases, and 13 RBIs. He had a brief stint earlier this year and went 1-for-4 with the big club, but he's been locked in lately.

The Mets also recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Syracuse to start Thursday night against Minnesota. Scott was 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA in three Triple-A starts with 17 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. He hasn't pitched in the majors since July 21, 2024, after a sprained UCL led to Tommy John surgery back in September. This is a big moment for the 26-year-old to prove he can contribute at the big league level.

The Mets are in trouble, and Thursday's roster moves only highlight how much ground they need to make up. Let's see if Mauricio and Scott can help them start turning this season around.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.