Lindor's struggles peak in frustrating loss
Tylor Megill and the Mets struggle in a loss to the Twins. Plus, when can fans expect Francisco Lindor to turn things around this year?
What’s up with the Mets? ⚾
The Mets lost a sloppy game to the Twins last night, 6-3 (box)
RHP Tylor Megill labored on Tuesday night, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts over five innings
RF Juan Soto homered (3) for the second straight night as part of a 1-for-4 day at the plate
1B Pete Alonso continued his torrid start to the season, going 2-for-4 with a home run (5) and a double in the loss
SS Francisco Lindor continued his slow start to the season, going 1-for-5 and striking out while representing the tying run in the 9th
RHP Max Kranick allowed runs for the first time this season, surrendering two runs on four hits over 1.2 innings pitched
RHP Griffin Canning was scratched from today’s start due to an illness, RHP Justin Hagenman will take his place this afternoon
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Justin Hagenman will be called up to be the spot starter for the Mets later today
Play of the Game ⭐️
With the Mets giving up runs in five separate innings, I’m not sure that there was a singular moment where last night’s game was lost.
So, with that, the only moment that seemed appropriate to highlight last night is the final out. Despite the team’s struggles on the mound, in the field, and at the plate on Tuesday night, the Mets still had a chance to tie this ballgame as Francisco Lindor stepped up as the tying run with two outs in the 9th.
Unfortunately for Lindor and the Mets, the star shortstop’s slow start to the season did not cease. After getting ahead in the count 3-1, Lindor eventually struck out swinging on a 102 MPH fastball to end the game.
Down on the Farm 🌾
RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 16 Prospect, Triple-A): 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K (win)
C Francisco Álvarez (rehab, Double-A): 2-for-3, HR (1), HBP
2B Jeff McNeil (rehab, Single-A): 1-for-3, 2 BB, run scored
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-up: Mets (11-6) at Twins (6-12)
Where: Target Field — Minneapolis, MN
Starters: RHP Justin Hagenman vs. RHP David Festa (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
When will Francisco Lindor escape his slow start syndrome? ✍️
The Francisco Lindor slow start to the regular season is not something that comes as a surprise anymore – if anything, it’s expected – and everyone should have confidence that he’ll turn it around because he always does. But that still doesn’t make said stretches any easier to watch as they happen.
The 2025 edition of Lindor’s cold start crescendoed even further on Tuesday night as the shortstop went 1-for-5 at the plate, committed an error that led to two unearned runs scoring, and struck out as the tying run to end the game.
On the season overall, Lindor is now hitting .219/.260/.313 with just one home run, four doubles, six RBIs, nine runs scored, a .573 OPS, and a 79 OPS+ over his first 16 games. Lindor has also committed an uncharacteristic four errors in the field in the early season so far.
After having a solid homestand where it appeared as if he was breaking out of it, Lindor fell back into the deep end of his struggles once the club hit the road. Over the first five games of this current road trip, Lindor is just 4-for-23 with no home runs and one RBI at the plate.
As we said, this isn’t anything new for Lindor or for Mets fans. The star shortstop is now in his fifth season with the organization, with each one of them starting in largely the same way. But what everyone really wants to know is how can we expect this to keep going on?
Perhaps looking back at Lindor’s previous slow starts could help give us an indicator on when things might start to turn around…
Last season, Lindor was hitting just .198/.271/.349 over his first 48 games of the season. From May 22nd onward, the infielder batted .308/.377/.568 with 26 home runs, 68 RBIs, 79 runs scored, and a .945 OPS over his final 104 games.
Going back to 2023, Lindor was hitting .213/.284/.404 over his first 60 games of the season. From June 6th onward, he hit .281/.369/.512 with 21 home runs, 58 RBIs, 75 runs scored, and an .881 OPS over his final 100 games.
In 2022, Lindor batted .231/.312/.388 over his first 35 games of the season. From May 15th onward, he hit .280/.346/.466 with 21 home runs, 86 RBIs, 80 runs scored, and an .812 OPS over his final 126 games.
And in 2021, his first season with the club, Lindor hit .194/.294/.294 over his first 46 games of the season. From June 1st onward, he hit .252/.340/.482 with 16 home runs, 52 RBIs, 51 runs scored, and an .822 OPS over his final 79 games.
As you can see, the dates have had a bit of a wide range from year to year when it comes to Lindor turning his season around. But if you go by his previous four seasons with the Mets, they would tell you that we still have a ways to go here. In his four years with the club, Lindor has not begun his resurgence prior to the 35-game mark – tonight will only be the team’s 17th game of the season.
It’s hardly scientific, but on average, Lindor normally takes around 47 games to really get things into gear. Sometimes it can happen a little quicker, sometimes it can take a little longer, but if you’re judging off of the previous history alone, you shouldn’t expect Lindor to snap out of this until sometime in the middle of May at the earliest.
For now, the club is winning without one of their biggest stars, but eventually, the Mets will need him to step up in order to keep the good times rolling. We all know that this time will come for Lindor, the only question left is “when?”
Around the League 🚩
Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman had the first five-hit game of his career, powering Boston to a 7-4 win vs. the Rays
Dbacks OF Corbin Carroll continued his scorching hot start to the season as his grand slam carried the club to a 10-4 win over the Marlins
Blue Jays OF Anthony Santander crushed a three-run home run as Toronto handled the Braves, 6-3
The Phillies got home runs from Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto to outlast the Giants, 6-4
A’s 1B Tyler Soderstrom clubbed two home runs and drove in six as the former Oakland inhabitants blew out the White Sox by a 12-3 score
Good piece! Thanks for researching the early/late stats on Lindor. As you say, Lindor's 4 errors already is uncharacteristic, gotta stop. My boy Megill had a bit of a setback but his stats are still sweet. Acuna looking more and more like a keeper. Still worried about Nimmo. One of these days we'll hear about Baty getting sent down or traded for a very modest return. Disappointing.
Yesterday's game was one that eventually looked like not the Mets' night. Teams can gut out a win in those cases. Not last night. Lindor struggled including a productive (for the other team) error. A bullpen arm looked human. The other team shows they have hitters too. etc.
So, you just win the rubber game, which is a match-up of from what I can tell both replacement starter types. Anyway. Acuna is starting to look good too, including baserunning and defense.