Francisco Lindor's Calf Blows Up the Mets' Lineup Right When They Finally Won a Game

The New York Mets caught a break Wednesday night, snapping a 12-game losing streak with a win. Then Thursday rolled around and ripped that relief right back out of their hands. Francisco Lindor, the shortstop who was supposed to anchor the middle of the infield, landed on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain. He got hurt in that same winning game, limping out with calf tightness after going 2-for-2. The timing could not be worse.

Lindor Was Finally Finding His Swing

Here's what stings about this: Lindor was actually heating up. He came into Wednesday batting just .226 on the season, looking lost at the plate. But over his last nine games, the 32-year-old had 11 hits in 33 at-bats, dragging his average up from .188. The guy was settling in. He was about to matter again. Then the calf decided to ruin everything.

Enter Ronny Mauricio, Hot Bat and All

The Mets called up Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the void. The 25-year-old infielder is hitting .293 with a .987 OPS down in the minors, and his recent power has been impossible to ignore. Mauricio went yard three times on Tuesday night alone, giving him six home runs in 58 at-bats this season to go with five stolen bases and 13 RBIs. He did get a brief look with the Mets earlier this year, going 1-for-4, so this is his real chance to prove he belongs.

On the same day Mauricio arrived, the Mets recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Syracuse to start that night against Minnesota. Scott hasn't touched a major league mound since July 21, 2024. He spent that time rehabbing a sprained UCL that required Tommy John surgery in September 2024. He was 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA in three Triple-A starts, though he did rack up 17 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. Scott has never faced the Twins in his career.

The Mets Are Drowning and Soto's Out Too

This Lindor injury matters because the Mets are in serious trouble. Juan Soto, the other major bat in the lineup, went down with a calf injury on April 3 against San Francisco. After that, New York lost 12 straight games. They came into Thursday sitting at 8-16. When your two best bats are both hurt, finding wins becomes a lot harder.

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