Mets starting lineup just feels different when Francisco Lindor is red hot

When Francisco Lindor is hot, the New York Mets starting lineup just feels different.

Lindor is having a pretty great year on the field, a not so great one around doors. He’s slashing .256/.339/.433 with 8 home runs and 43 RBI in his first 53 games.

He may not put up league-leading numbers in any category but those numbers can be hollow any way. What Lindor has given this Mets lineup is someone else to drive in runs. Pete Alonso has company. He’s not the sole bearer of runs batted in.

The Mets starting lineup has a different feel with Francisco Lindor producing runs

It’s okay to say Francisco Lindor had a bad year in 2021 and is having a good one in 2022. You don’t have to point out his faults from both seasons or limit the conversation to his strengths. It’s perfectly fine to call it right down the middle: last year stunk, this year is on track to be quite fantastic.

Lindor has practically cemented himself in as the number three hitter for the Mets. He has gotten at-bats out of the two spot as well, something we could still see Buck Showalter do depending on performance and health of the team around him.

There’s really no way to do it wrong. The Mets have the benefit of having plenty of suitable options to bat at the top of the lineup. Because of his power compared to some of the others on this roster, he makes a lot of sense to bat third. His run production this year has been one of the most important differences from 2021.

Prior to the second game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Lindor had driven in at least one run in each of his last ten games. He didn’t play in the team’s shutout on Thursday and the difference was obvious. As superb as Luis Guillorme has been this season, he’s the kind of guy who shouldn’t be batting third and expected to drive in runs. Put him at the top or bottom to rip a few singles instead.

Lindor has been a streaky player this year which won’t help him win over some fans. He hit .282 in April and then only .243 in May. His RBI total did double which indicates the hits he is getting are important ones.

Last year, you could put Lindor in the center of a Mets lineup and not feel anything at all. This season, he has been a rock for them.