Mets' Francisco Lindor back in lineup despite slight fracture in right middle finger
Mets' Francisco Lindor gestures to the dugout after his two-run single against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Citi Field on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
LOS ANGELES — Francisco Lindor’s swollen and bruised right middle finger actually has a slight fracture in its tip, but he said Friday that it isn’t a big deal — so much so that he was right back in the Mets’ lineup, playing shortstop and batting third, after missing just one day.
He said he felt “much better” and passed the test of throwing, the baseball activity that he was most concerned about. His altered grip is more in the middle of his hand, less on the injured digit, than usual.
“It’s not very alarming, very concerning,” Lindor said of the fracture. “If they’re having me throw right now, I don’t think it’s something very concerning. As long as I can tolerate it, I should be out there.”
Manager Buck Showalter, noting that Lindor lobbied heavily to play against the Dodgers, added: “It’s one he can play with when he gets to the point of [dealing with] discomfort.”
Lindor injured the finger Wednesday night when he slammed a hotel door on it.
As for that door? Lindor hasn’t bothered with it since.
“I ain’t touching that door,” he said. “It can stay open. I’ll deal with the sun.”
Megill update
Tylor Megill (right biceps tendinitis) is scheduled to make a rehabilitation start with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday, Showalter said. He is penciled in for four innings.
“That’s the plan,” Showalter said. “Could be more. Hope it’s not less.”
If that goes well, the Mets would have two options: Have Megill return to the majors, likely next weekend against the Angels, or complete a second rehab outing.
Hodges Day
The Dodgers will retire Gil Hodges’ No. 14 before the game Saturday. Hodges starred for the Brooklyn Dodgers, continued to play well after they moved to Los Angeles and, of course, later became the Mets’ manager, leading them to their 1969 World Series championship. Hodges, who died in 1972, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month.
Game time
MLB moved all season-finale games, including Nationals-Mets, to 4 p.m. on Oct. 5.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
