Luisangel Acuña’s emergence is saving Mets with Francisco Lindor running out of time

Francisco Lindor hasn’t played a full game in a little more than a week and nothing he said or did on Sunday at Citi Field indicated he would be ready to do so when the Mets open another crucial series on Tuesday, this time on the road in Atlanta with a wild card spot on the line.

With his back still not right, Lindor has run, thrown and taken ground balls, as well as hit on the field — but he has yet to run the bases and likely still needs to face live pitching before he rejoins the lineup.

The shortstop added he was “optimistic” he would play again this season, but acknowledged that even if he does return, it won’t be pain-free.

“I want to be there as much as anybody and the trainers want me there as much as anybody,’’ Lindor said after the Mets beat the Phillies on Sunday in Queens. “It’s just a matter of hitting that spot that they’re going to feel safe and they’re going to feel good. And then same thing for me.”

He’s running out of time, which means the presence of Luisangel Acuña is only becoming more important.

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Even with Lindor having played just one inning since Sept. 13, the Mets enter the series against the Braves with a chance to clinch a wild card spot with a pair of wins, since doing so would give them the tiebreaker over Atlanta.

Acuña, since picking up two hits in his MLB debut on Sept. 14 in Philadelphia, has been a much-needed spark , impressing both at the plate and at short.

It was hardly a given the 22-year-old would make such an immediate impact, especially considering his rough season at Triple-A Syracuse, where he had just a .654 OPS this year after an underwhelming performance at Double-A Binghamton following his midseason arrival in the trade that sent Max Scherzer to Texas.

Acuña’s manager this season in the minors, Dick Scott, watched all the ups and downs up close.

“He was a 22-year-old at Triple-A, still learning the game, when the season started,’’ Scott said. “Guys pitched him tough and he had at-bats where he got carved up. But he kept his head up, kept working, showed up early and did what he needed to do.”

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Acuña has hit three homers in nine games with the Mets after going deep just seven times in 131 games with Syracuse this season.

Just as importantly, he’s looked very comfortable at short, with soft hands and a strong arm, noted by several of his new teammates.

Acuña’s early production has made it easier for the Mets to be patient with Lindor, although their chances of getting to the playoffs and advancing if they get there would be boosted by the return of their healthy star, who was challenging Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP before the injury.

So instead of potentially rushing Lindor back, the Mets can watch Acuña continue to grow.

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“Nobody would have guessed he’d get plugged in for Lindor and then have the team not miss a beat with him playing shortstop,” Scott said. “He’s come in during a pressurized situation and just played.”

The spotlight has been bright on Acuña and will shine brighter in Atlanta, where his brother, Ronald Jr., was an MVP last year and is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

“There was a lot expected of him as a top prospect, with his brother being the reigning MVP, an All-Star with a famous name,” Scott said. “People want the same results for Luis and guys mature at different speeds. He got off to a slow start, but now he’s just playing.”

And it’s happening when he is needed most.

“He’s just been so professional this whole time he’s been up,’’ Pete Alonso said. “He’s been really impressive, obviously, tearing the cover off the ball. And he’s consistent and reliable on defense. He’s a true pro and been huge for us, especially [Lindor’s] been down. He’s gonna continue to help us win games, not just this year, but many games in the future.’’

“It’s a guy rising to the occasion,” Scott said. “That’s what good players do. He’s doing this in the heat of a playoff race. For people to expect this is how the rest of his career is going to go, I don’t have a crystal ball, but he’s doing it at the right time.”

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