Luisangel Acuna has been penned into the New York Mets’ lineup on Thursday afternoon as the starting shortstop against the Los Angeles Dodgers as four-time All-Star Francisco Lindor takes a seat to deal with a broken toe.
Lindor was hit by a pitch in the first inning of Wednesday’s Mets-Dodgers game, but was helped to his feet and played all nine innings of the Mets’ 6-1 victory. Postgame X-rays revealed a broken pinkie toe in his right foot thanks to an errant Tony Gonsolin slider.
By sitting at the start of Thursday’s game, Lindor will be out of the Mets’ leadoff spot for just the second time all season. He missed the 10-4 win against the Miami Marlins on March 31 following the birth of his son, Koa.
Lindor said he is working through the pain and will be re-evaluated daily to determine his availability.
“It hurts,” Lindor said. “And even more so when you are wearing shoes.”
Lindor is batting .279 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs and 11 stolen bases this season.
Acuna, 23, enters Thursday’s game with a .246/.298/.292 slash line and 11 stolen bases in 53 games. He’s the younger brother of Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna.
–Field Level Media
