New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was out of the New York Mets’ starting lineup for their series opener against the Miami Marlins after the birth of his third child.
Luisangel Acuna will step in for Lindor in the interim, as he did in September after the star was sidelined with a back injury. Acuna made the Opening Day roster as a utility infielder and got the first start of the season at second base with the left-handed Framber Valdez on the mound. The left-handed Brett Baty got the next two games of that Houston series, which the Mets dropped two of three in.
Lindor struggled mightily in the opening series of the season, going 0-for-11, which was just a microcosm of a struggling offense outside of Juan Soto. New York could only muster five runs in its first three games — a less-than-ideal first impression for what is to be one of the more imposing lineups in the majors.
Slow starts are becoming a concerning trend with Lindor, who started the 2024 season going 1-for-31 on his way to an opening 47-game stretch in which he was batting below .200.
He dismissed any notion that the impending arrival of his son had anything to do with his struggles to start this year.
“There was no baby last year, and I was in the same spot,” Lindor said. “This is not my kid’s fault. This is not my wife’s fault. I own up to it. I didn’t get any hits.”
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