This Mets star is outpacing his '21 stats

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Stay consistent. Stay tough.

Those are just two examples of the self-talk Francisco Lindor uses to stay relaxed when he steps to the plate. Evidently, it’s working. Last week, Lindor broke the franchise record for most RBIs by a shortstop prior to the All-Star break -- a record he continues to pad, as he drastically outpaces his 2021 RBI numbers.

The shortstop recorded 63 RBIs in 2021, his 56th of which did not come until his 118th game (Sept. 26). Meanwhile, Lindor notched his 56th RBI this season in his 71st game: Friday’s series opener in Miami.

A lot of his success relates to Lindor’s approach at the plate. It also helps that he’s seeing plenty of the Marlins at the moment, as the Mets are in the back end of a stretch of 11 games in 21 days against the division rivals.

“Not trying to be the hero gives you a sense of calmness, of like, ‘[I’ve] got to calm down,” Lindor said. “That’s when you have the best results, because the game is already fast. And when you have people on base, to try to match that energy doesn’t work.”

Being able to calm himself as he steps to the plate (which, he acknowledged, doesn’t always work) has helped Lindor excel with runners in scoring position. Entering Monday, he's batting .296 and slugging .420 in those situations (81 at-bats). Across his eight-year Major League career, Lindor has only twice hit below .240 with runners in scoring position: 2019 and ’20, while he was still with Cleveland.