Francisco

Lindor

No surprise here after Ohtani wrapped up his sublime Dodgers debut with a stratospheric 1.036 OPS to go along with 54 homers, 59 steals and 130 RBI over 159 games. The other interesting note here is Jackson Merrill becoming just the 16th rookie ever to take home the honor since 1980. Here are the rest of the National League winners: William Contreras (C), Bryce Harper (1B), Ketel Marte (2B), Manny Machado (3B), Francisco Lindor (SS), Jackson Merrill (OF), Jurickson Profar (OF), Teoscar Hernández (OF), Shohei Ohtani (DH) and Mookie Betts (UTIL).

Ohtani, who is currently recovering from offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, helped lead Los Angeles to a World Series title in his Dodgers debut where he finished with a surreal 1.036 OPS along with 54 homers and 130 RBI. Lindor turned in his finest season in the Big Apple to date, helping guide the Mets back to the postseason by posting a stellar .844 OPS with 33 homers and 29 steals over 152 games. Marte was limited to just 136 contests due to an untimely late-season ankle injury, but still managed to club a career-high 36 round-trippers for an Arizona squad that just narrowly missed out on a playoff berth.

In a bases-loaded situation for the third time in the game, the Mets finally capitalized in the sixth. With the Phillies up 1-0, Jeff Hoffman loaded the bases with no outs before getting an easy grounder to short. Trea Turner opted to get the lone out at home rather than take an easy double play. That kept the bases loaded, and after Carlos Estévez came on as Hoffman’s replacement, Lindor delivered the decisive blow. The Phillies never responded, finishing the game with just four hits. In all, they totaled 24 hits in the series, 11 of those coming off the bats of Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Lindor’s homer was his first of this postseason and seventh in 35 career games in October.

The Braves can still advance with a win in the second game, and the Mets won’t have any real incentive to try hard in that one. If the Mets do win, though, they’d play the Padres, and the Diamondbacks would play the Brewers in the Wild Card. If the Braves win, the Mets will go to Milwaukee. Lindor’s homer off Pierce Johnson capped a wild finish that saw the Mets erase a 3-0 deficit with six runs in the top of the eighth, only to blow the lead by giving up four runs in the bottom of the inning. It was his 33rd homer of the year, matching the second highest total of his career. He reached 90 RBI for the third straight season and fourth time in his career.

This is what a super stay, franchise cornerstone player does. Still with a bad back – he practically crawled off the field after scoring in the first inning – Lindor carried the Mets to victory. He immediately set the tone for this game with a lead-off walk, then stole second base, and came around to score on a Brandon Nimmo single. He then stole another base, hit an RBI single in the fourth, and more or less iced the game with his home run in the sixth. He is doing everything he possibly can to get his Mets over the hump.

Lindor finished the game in the on-deck circle. He would’ve pinch hit if anyone reached base in the ninth inning. Lindor also went through a normal workout on the field before the game. These are the most positive signs that Lindor will return to the field that we’ve seen in days.

Lindor says he could pinch-hit as soon as Tuesday night, but that’s no guarantee. The Mets shortstop is still feeling discomfort and was seen in the clubhouse wearing a heavy wrap around his back before the game Tuesday. Fantasy managers remain in a holding pattern with Lindor, who won’t be place on the injured list, but is out of the lineup for the eighth consecutive game Tuesday.

Lindor still wants to get back on to the field this week whenever trainers officially clear him to do so. The Mets have fared well without him the last several days, so he hasn’t been forced to try to rush back for a second time.

Mendoza originally hoped to get Lindor back in the lineup for the series against the Phillies this weekend, but that hope was a bit too optimistic. Lindor will go through a full series of baseball activities on Saturday. He’s not going to play this weekend and the Mets have an off-day on Monday, making Tuesday the best-case scenario for Lindor to return to action.

Sunday will be Lindor’s last chance to make back on the field this weekend. Luisangel Acuna continues to play shortstop and bat ninth in Lindor’s stead.