The direction of the final twists in a rollercoaster season for the New York Mets might be determined by the results of the MRI exam star shortstop Francisco Lindor is scheduled to undergo Monday. The Mets will hope to have clarity on Lindor's status by Monday night, when they open a pivotal three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals in a battle of National League East rivals. Left-hander Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.
35 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin (10-12, 4.19). The Mets will begin their last homestand of the regular season after falling to the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1, in the rubber game of a three-game series Sunday afternoon.
The Nationals hit the road for the final time after completing a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins with a 4-3 victory. The loss didn't hurt the Mets (81-68) in the race for the final NL wild-card spot. New York remains tied with the Atlanta Braves, who gave up seven runs in the ninth inning late Sunday night in a 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Both teams have 13 games left, including three in Atlanta next week. But Lindor's availability for the stretch run is in question after the NL Most Valuable Player candidate was limited to eight innings against the Phillies due to a sore back. Lindor exited in the seventh inning of Friday's 11-3 win and sat out Saturday's 6-4 loss -- the first game he's missed this season.
Lindor started Sunday and led the game off with a single but slowed u.