The New York Mets, in the midst of a difficult road stretch in California, could have their middle-infield stars back on Sunday.
Mets manager Luis Rojas said Saturday that “today is a big day” as it relates to the possible return of Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez.
“There is a possibility, but we’re not sure yet,” Rojas told reporters before the Mets played the Los Angeles Dodgers. “This went from week-to-week to day-to-day. We’ll see how the player feels, then we’ll make the decision.”
Lindor has been out since July 16 with a right oblique strain, and Baez last played on Aug. 10 due to back spasms.
Rojas said Lindor would face live pitching Saturday, and that Baez and Lindor have been running the bases and taking infield ground balls.
Baez, 28, is hitting .241 with 24 home runs and 68 RBIs this season, but only .171 with two homers in 10 games for New York since he joined the Mets at the trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs.
Lindor, 27, is hitting .228 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs through 87 games in his first season with New York after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Indians.
The Mets have won only one of their first five games at San Francisco and Los Angeles in a seven-game road trip that concludes with Saturday and Sunday games against the Dodgers.
–Field Level Media