Mets manager feeling ‘a little bit better’ about Francisco Lindor’s injury

DENVER — Dealing with a broken pinky toe on his right foot, Francisco Lindor still may be available to make an impact sometime this weekend for the New York Mets against the Colorado Rockies.

Before the start of the three-game series in Denver on Friday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Lindor did some running upon arrival at Coors Field to test the level of pain. However, it’s clear the soreness is still there for the 31-year-old shortstop.

“He went out there and did some running,” Mendoza said. “Still, obviously feeling his fracture. He’s going to continue to feel it. He was doing some cage drills and all that and we’ll see, maybe we have some type of availability today (Friday).”

If Lindor were to see action in the series opener, it would be his first appearance since being hit by a Tony Gonsolin slider in Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Lindor stayed in the game, despite what would eventually be diagnosed as a fracture, finishing 0-for-4.

Lindor did not play in Thursday’s matinee at Chavez Ravine, but did tell reporters that he was dealing with pain in the toe, especially when he had to put on shoes.

Whether or not Lindor does get in an at-bat on Friday (he was not in the starting lineup), Mendoza hinted that Lindor could be back in the Mets lineup before the series in Denver ended on Sunday.

“I feel a little bit better today than how I felt yesterday,” Mendoza said when asked about his level of optimism that Lindor would be available sometime this weekend. “I thought maybe giving him the full series, but watching him today and talking to him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the lineup tomorrow or the next day.”

Lindor’s fracture is part of what has been a troubling trend for the Mets this season, as their players have been hit 41 times heading into Friday’s game, the highest mark in MLB.

The four-time All-Star shortstop is currently tied with Hall of Famer Derek Jeter at 255 career home runs, the fifth-most at the position in MLB history.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.