Injuries & Moves: Lindor (back) misses third straight game
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Sept. 18: SS Francisco Lindor (back tightness) sits out third straight game
Lindor was out of the Mets' lineup for a third consecutive night on Wednesday and remains day to day, but he is making tangible progress on the road back from a bout of lower-back tightness. Lindor played catch before the game and participated in agility drills, appearing on the field for the first time since Sunday morning.
"Better than Philly," he said, referring to how his back felt during last weekend's series against the Phillies.
On Monday, following a clean MRI on his lower back, Lindor estimated that he would return in 2-5 days. Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated Wednesday that Lindor must complete a full slate of baseball activities before returning, which he hasn't yet done. That means he's unlikely to be in the starting lineup before Friday.
Lindor originally tweaked his back last Friday night in a win over the Phillies, then sat out Saturday's game and was forced out of Sunday's 2-1 loss to Philadelphia after just one inning. He hasn't played since, with Jose Iglesias and Luisangel Acuña splitting shortstop duties in his absence.
Sept. 18: 3B Brett Baty (fractured left index finger) activated from Triple-A injured list
Baty, who fractured his finger in an Aug. 22 game with Triple-A Syracuse, returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday. He will need to amass at-bats in the Minors before the Mets would even consider calling him up, and they'd also need to have a need on the big league club. But if Baty performs well, he could still play a role down the stretch -- or in the postseason. The 24-year-old has a .633 OPS in the Majors this season.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Paul Blackburn (spinal fluid leak in mid-back)
Expected return: Late September
Blackburn was scheduled to rejoin the Mets' rotation on Sept. 9 in Toronto, but he felt something in his lower back after his rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 3. That something turned out to be a spinal fluid leak, which prompted the Mets to shut Blackburn down on Sept. 14. He restarted a throwing program four days later and hopes to return before the end of the regular season -- likely in a bullpen role.
Blackburn initially landed on the IL after taking a 100.3 mph line drive off his right hand on Aug. 23 against the Padres. Tylor Megill has pitched well in his rotation spot, prompting Blackburn to say he'd be happy coming out of the bullpen once he's healthy. (Last updated: Sept. 18)
RHP Christian Scott (right elbow UCL sprain)
Expected return: 2026
Scott's promising rookie season came to a premature end in late September, when he made plans to undergo a hybrid elbow surgery that combines a Tommy John ligament replacement with the insertion of an internal brace. Scott is likely to miss the entire 2025 season and be ready for Opening Day 2026. At that point, he will be closing in on his 27th birthday with nine career big league starts on his resume. The Mets are hopeful he can still be a significant part of their future, but that is now far down the road. (Last updated: Sept. 18)
RHP Dedniel Núñez (strained right flexor tendon)
Expected return: 2025
The Mets shut Núñez down for the season after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right flexor tendon, which has bothered him to varying extends since July. Initially, Núñez missed a month due to a similar injury. He returned for a single outing on Aug. 24 before landing back on the IL.
Following a second opinion, Núñez received his PRP shot on Sept. 13 in hopes of avoiding surgery. The Mets don't know yet if the conservative treatment plan will work, but their hope is Núñez will be back at full strength by Opening Day 2025. He was one of New York's best relievers when healthy, with a 2.31 ERA over 25 appearances. (Last updated: Sept. 13)
2B/OF Jeff McNeil (fractured right wrist)
Expected return: 4-6 weeks
McNeil was hit on the right wrist by a 74.3 mph curveball on Sept. 6, staying in the game for an inning before being pinch-hit for by Harrison Bader in his next at-bat. After the wrist swelled up, McNeil underwent MRI imaging on Sept. 7, which showed a small fracture. He was placed on the injured list on Sept. 8 (retroactive to Sept. 7), and is slated to miss the rest of the regular season.
No surgery is required for McNeil; the plan is to let the wrist heal, with an eye toward returning if the Mets make a deep postseason run. (Last updated: Sept. 8)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: Possibly late September
The Mets removed Reid-Foley from his rehab assignment in mid-August to give him time to strengthen his shoulder, which has affected him to varying extents since March. He resumed throwing in early September, but he isn't close to a return and is a long shot to pitch again this season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on Sept. 5. (Last updated: Sept. 18)
RHP Kodai Senga (high-grade left calf strain)
Expected return: Possibly late September
Senga injured his leg in the sixth inning of the Mets' 8-4 victory over the Braves on July 26, went on the IL one day later, and shifted to the 60-day IL a day after that. He has spent all but about 24 hours of this season on the IL, where he will remain until at least Sept. 25.
But Senga began throwing bullpens on Sept. 4, adding weight to the idea that he could return for the final week of the season (and potentially October). He hopes to pitch an inning at Triple-A Syracuse before the Minor League season ends on Sept. 21, which would set him up to return at some point on the Mets' final road trip. (Last updated: Sept. 18)
INF Ronny Mauricio (recovery from right knee surgery)
Expected return: 2025
The Mets announced on Aug. 2 that the 23-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue in his right knee earlier in the week.
“Obviously not the news that you want,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “That’s part of the rehab process. It’s just a little bump in the road.”
Mauricio underwent a separate surgery in early January to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, which he injured during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. There had been hope he could return before the end of the regular season, but his second operation removed any possibility of that.
Mauricio slashed .248/.296/.347 with six extra-base hits, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases over a 26-game stint with the big league club in 2023. (Last updated: Aug. 2)
RHP Drew Smith (right elbow sprain)
Expected return: 2025
Smith underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career on July 12, after doctors found significant ligament damage in his right elbow. The operation, which involved both a ligament reconstruction and the addition of a stabilizing internal brace, ended Smith's season.
The right-hander can be a free agent in November and could miss all of next season, depending on how quickly he progresses in his rehab. A typical timeline for Tommy John recoveries is 12-18 months. (Last updated: July 13)
LHP Brooks Raley (left UCL strain)
Expected return: 2025
Raley, a heavily used reliever who was having trouble recovering between outings in mid-April, had Tommy John surgery on May 29. The procedure, which Dr. Keith Meister performed in Arlington, ended his season and possibly his Mets tenure.
Because of a clause in Raley's contract, he is eligible to become a free agent in November despite having fewer than six years of service time. As such, he may have already thrown his final pitch with the Mets. (Last updated: June 30)