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06/24 12:31 CDT Soto's status is undetermined as Lindor gets ready to rejoin
Mets, and Senga shifts to bullpen
Soto's status is undetermined as Lindor gets ready to rejoin Mets, and Senga
shifts to bullpen
By JERRY BEACH
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) --- Francisco Lindor is ready to rejoin the New York Mets ---
just as Juan Soto deals with a back injury that may sideline him beyond
Wednesday.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he couldn't rule out a trip to the injured
list for Soto, who exited a 9-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs after the fourth
inning Tuesday night because of a tight back.
Soto, who was pictured on SNY wearing a wrap around his back in the dugout
Tuesday, underwent imaging before Wednesday's doubleheader. Mendoza said he
hoped Soto could be available at some point Wednesday but acknowledged a level
of concern for the superstar outfielder, who is in the second season of a
15-year, $765 million deal.
"We've got to wait," Mendoza said. "Obviously not ideal when a player like him
come out of a game. Those guys are tough and they know how important they are
and they take pride on being in the lineup everyday and posting.
"I just didn't like how he looked yesterday. We've got to wait."
Soto's injury may delay his reunion with Lindor, who is expected to be
activated prior to Wednesday's nightcap. The 32-year-old shortstop has been
sidelined since suffering a strained left calf while running the bases against
the Minnesota Twins on April 22 --- the same day Soto returned from an 18-day
stint on shelf due to a strained right calf.
Lindor played in his third rehab game Tuesday, when he was 2 for 5 while
scoring twice for Triple-A Syracuse. He made the four-hour trip back to New
York following the game, which factored into the Mets' decision to hold off on
activating him.
"Everything checked out well after the game last night but he got in late, so
we told him to kind of recover this morning," Mendoza said. "We anticipate him
being in the lineup."
Mendoza said the Mets will proceed cautiously with Lindor following the longest
injured stint of his 12-year career. Lindor, who missed just 15 games the
previous four years, will likely sit out Thursday's game and will also see more
time than usual at designated hitter.
Lindor and Soto have played just nine games together this season for the
last-place Mets, who haven't recovered from the 12-game losing streak they
endured during Soto's absence. New York, which hasn't finished in last place
since 2003, is seven games out of the final National League playoff spot.
"I'm just worried about Soto," Mendoza said. "I'm not thinking about Lindor
back, Soto out. It is what it is, right? Hopefully we can get those two in the
lineup for a long time here for the rest of the season and we can make a run at
it."
Mendoza also announced beleaguered starter Kodai Senga has been shifted to the
bullpen. Senga gave up seven runs over 3 2/3 innings Tuesday as his ERA rose to
10.08. He hasn't earned a win since June 12, 2025, when he suffered a hamstring
injury covering first base against the Washington Nationals.
Senga, a noted creature of habit, has made just one relief appearance for the
Mets. He threw the final 1 2/3 innings of Game 6 of the 2024 NLCS against the
Los Angeles Dodgers.
"We're going to adjust his routine, he's going to have to adjust his routine,"
Mendoza said.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
