Francisco Lindor To Hit Leadoff, Juan Soto To Hit Second
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is leaning towards putting shortstop Francisco Lindor at the top of the batting order and recently acquired outfielder Juan Soto in the two-hole. Lindor spent most of the 2025 campaign batting in the top spot and performed very well. When batting first, Lindor posted a stellar .303/.374/.552 line with 26 home runs and 31 doubles. He held a 42:97 BB:K ratio. He generated a .379 xwOBA, placing him in the 95th percentile among qualified hitters. Juan Soto spent his entire 2024 season batting in the two-hole with the Yankees. He posted a .288/.419/.569 line with a career-best 41 home runs. He showed an elite eye at the plate with an 18.1 percent walk rate. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo to bat behind them, providing them with elite RBI opportunities.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) was on pace to play 162 games last season before going down with an injury in September. Head coach Carlos Mendoza was asked if Lindor would have rest days throughout the season because of the back issue. It doesn't sound like that is the plan right now as Lindor himself said the MLB does a good job of scheduling off days, so he doesn't sound like he'll need additional time. Fantasy managers should expect Lindor to be ready to go for the beginning of the season. He has played over 150 games in each of the last three seasons, so fantasy managers should expect more of the same in 2025.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Tuesday that shortstop Francisco Lindor will hit leadoff again in 2025. New outfielder Juan Soto has mostly hit second or third in his career, but Mendoza won't reveal more of expected lineup spots until he talks with Soto, first baseman Pete Alonso and others. The 31-year-old Lindor slashed a strong .273/.344/.500 with 33 home runs, 29 stolen bases, 91 RBI and 107 runs scored in 152 regular-season games and should be even more productive in the run-scoring department with Soto now added to the Mets' lineup. He was just one steal shy of back-to-back 30-homer, 30-steal campaigns, and he also finished second in the National League behind Shohei Ohtani in fWAR. There's a lot to like here, which is why RotoBaller has Lindor ranked as the No. 5 fantasy shortstop entering the 2025 season.
Francisco Lindor's Back Injury In The Rearview Mirror
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) said that the back issue that caused him to miss some games in September hasn't been a problem during offseason workouts. Lindor will continue to monitor his back, but he looks set for a fully healthy offseason. The 31-year-old was forced to miss over a week due to his nagging back injury in the middle of a postseason run late in September. The Mets eventually clinched a wild-card spot and advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lindor didn't look hampered by his back in the playoffs, hitting .275 in 13 games played. He should be fully healthy for spring training and the start of the 2025 campaign. Lindor could lose Pete Alonso as lineup protection, but he's already gained Juan Soto, who should drive him in plenty. He was one steal shy of a 30-30 season in 2024 and remains an elite fantasy shortstop.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor set the tone in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers with a leadoff home run. The 30-year-old fought through an eight-pitch at-bat, fouling off three straight two-strike pitches before sending a Ryan Brasier cutter over the fence. The switch hitter finished 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in the contest, which has been much of the same over the course of this postseason. The 4x All-Star has just a .235 average (8-for-34), but with an 8:8 BB:K he's sporting a strong .372 OBP with seven RBI and eight runs scored. He'll look to continue his clutch hitting Wednesday in New York versus Walker Buehler, who he is 1-for-2 off of in his career with the one hit coming via a home run.
Francisco Lindor Hits Go-Ahead Grand Slam As Mets Move On
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor came up clutch once again on Wednesday, smacking a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning of the series-clinching 4-1 win over the Phillies. The 30-year-old also hit a double, finishing the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. The slam was his first home run in seven postseason games thus far and the switch-hitter is 7-for-27 overall (.259) in the playoffs, but he's had a knack for coming up big when the Mets need him the most lately. The 4x All-Star will get a few days of rest before the Mets take on the winner of the Dodgers/Padres series in the NLCS.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor came up clutch for the Mets in Game 3 of the Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, getting on base three times and scoring a run in a 4-2 win. Lindor had a double and a single early on in this one, but his biggest plate appearance came in the ninth inning. He went down 1-2 in the count to Brewers closer Devin Williams before drawing a walk, which set the table for Pete Alonso to smash a three-run homer later in the inning. Lindor has been fantastic all season and so far has continued that in the playoffs. He and the Mets will head to Philadelphia for the NLDS against the Phillies.
Francisco Lindor Hits Go-Ahead Homer To Secure Mets' Postseason Spot
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor stepped up when it mattered most in Monday's Game 1 8-7 win over the Braves. Lindor went 2-for-5 with a single, a two-run home run, and three RBI. With their playoff hopes on the line, Lindor came to the plate in the top of the ninth inning down by one with a runner on first and one out. He sent a Pierce Johnson breaking ball just over the fence into the right-center bullpen to put the Mets up for good. The 30-year-old finished the regular season with excellent all-around numbers, slashing .273/.344/.500 with 33 HR, 107 runs scored, 91 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 689 plate appearances. His batting average has waivered at times throughout his career, but he has consistently shown the ability to be a high-end, five-category fantasy contributor.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor showed why he is an MVP candidate on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two stolen bases in a much-needed 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Lindor also walked, scored two runs, and drove in two. The switch-hitter will look to repeat his performance on Monday and send the Mets to the playoffs. He now has 32 homers and 29 steals on the season, so a stolen base will get him to the 30/30 mark. Lindor is one of the best five-category contributors in baseball and will be an early pick at a loaded shortstop position in fantasy drafts next year.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) is back at shortstop and is hitting leadoff in Friday's series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Frankie Montas at American Family Field. Lindor missed each of the team's previous eight games due to a nagging back injury that required an injection, but he was back in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the division-rival Atlanta Braves before the rest of that big series was rained out. It's great news for the Mets as they look to lock down one of the final wild-card spots in the National League before the playoffs begin next week. The 30-year-old has played at an MVP level in 2024, but he could struggle to recapture his pre-injury form, making him a risk in DFS lineups. In 11 career at-bats versus Montas, Lindor is hitting .364 with a 1.045 OPS. Before missing time with his back injury, Lindor was riding a modest four-game hitting streak.
Francisco Lindor
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Mets
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