The big NY Mets lineup question when Francisco Lindor returns and an answer

Francisco Lindor could surprise us all with a sudden return with minimal rehab games, if any at all. David Stearns said he expects Lindor to return before the end of June and we’re already at the 18th of the month. The New York Mets could use as they’re currently running with what feels like mostly a two-man band in the lineup.

Bo Bichette has gotten red hot all of a sudden while Juan Soto has broken out of his early June slump. The pair have been hitting second and third regularly in the lineup with Carson Benge remaining at the top of the order. Why mess with what seems to be clicking?

Lindor’s return comes with a question as to where to place him. Aside from additional fallout of what happens with Brett Baty, how the Mets restructure their lineup with their ex-leadoff hitter back in the fold is a question that’ll need to be answered.

Here’s what the Mets should do with Francisco Lindor

Let’s say not much changes with the Mets upon his return. Bichette continues to rise. Soto stays steady. Benge gives us some good with the bad days. Is moving Benge out of the leadoff role conceivable? He has hit better against lefties than righties (somehow) so dropping him in the order against southpaws doesn’t make any sense.

The first solution is simple. Lindor bats fourth.

As much as we appreciate Jared Young, he’s not a cleanup hitter. He’s batting only .207 in this spot. Mark Vientos is worse at .189. Luis Robert Jr. at .297 and Brett Baty at .278 were two of their more productive hitters in this spot with 10 or more at-bats. Neither is an option.

Lindor to number four is what makes the most sense barring a sudden drop off from Benge or Bichette. We should prepare for it to be temporary as the Mets always seem to have a breaking point every year when they need to reshuffle the lineup. It began in 2024 when the Mets finally started to bat Lindor leadoff.

There is no wrong answer when it comes to how to construct the top four in the lineup. Batting Soto second immediately behind Benge isn’t even a bad choice. That’s an argument for another time.

Most of the season has lacked a true clean-up hitter with Vientos batting there more than anyone else and coming up small. Young already has the second-most games and at-bats out of the number four spot with 17 and 58 respectively. He’ll drop in the lineup and possibly be asked to link in behind Lindor as the fifth hitter until someone takes it from him or he crashes.

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