Mets News: Francisco Lindor returns, Alex Cora praise, Starling Marte x-ray update

The New York Mets wrap up their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a Sunday finale where residents of the Big Apple will have to choose between baseball and football. Far too often a September Sunday afternoon for fans of both sports have had the Mets on pause in favor of the Giants, Jets, or maybe someone else. Not this year. The Mets are tied for the third Wild Card spot. Every day is meaningful.

After missing his first game of the season, Francisco Lindor is back in the lineup for the Mets right at the top of the lineup where he belongs.

Lindor was apparently feeling good enough to return. We can hope for a blowout victory that’ll allow him to take a few innings off at the end. Luisangel Acuna will be ready for some reps.

Francisco Lindor has a fan in Boston

Everyone has caught Lindor fever, including Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora. When asked who his favorite non-Red Sox player to watch is, he didn’t take a moment to think about it. He likes what he sees at shortstop for the Mets.

An increasingly popular and well-liked player among his peers and others around the league, it’s still puzzling how Lindor has been unable to capture the same love from others. He hasn’t been awarded a single All-Star appearance since joining the Mets. He has been snubbed every season in the Gold Glove chase.

This year includes a much bigger prize, the National League MVP. The tides seem to have shifted. Praise from Cora is just the latest example of how everyone feels about him.

Starling Marte's x-ray results came back negative

While the big injury concern had to do with Lindor, the Mets sent Starling Marte for x-rays that, fortunately, came back negative. 

Marte knocked in 3 of the 4 runs the Mets scored on Saturday and reached base 4 times. A pest throughout his career against the Phillies, a hit by pitch is what sent him to the x-ray machine. It doesn’t sound like Marte should miss any significant time. 

The timing absolutely stinks with the Mets going against a lefty on Sunday whom Marte has gone 3 for 9 against with a home run. The Mets get to face a couple more lefties in the coming days as well so getting him back in the lineup is paramount. Marte has been one of the team’s best hitters against southpaws this year, slashing .318/.375/.489.