Gio: Francisco Lindor's back flaring up is 'very alarming'

The Mets lost a heartbreaker on Sunday afternoon, losing on a walk-off single by JT Realmuto in the ninth inning after holding a 1-0 lead in the eighth.

That may be the least of their problems, as Francisco Lindor left the game with back discomfort, seemingly reaggravating the same injury from earlier in the week, putting the team’s best player and MVP candidate in a state of unknown with crucial series against the Phillies and Braves coming up after a three-game set with the Nationals.

Gio didn’t sugarcoat it on Monday morning, sounding the alarm if Lindor is unable to return quickly.

“To me, it’s very alarming,” Gio said. “Any time you hear lingering back stuff, it’s an issue.

“I know he’s gonna do anything he can to be out there, but it doesn’t take a baseball genius to know that if Francisco Lindor isn’t right, this team can do nothing.”

Lindor has been the heart and soul of the Mets in 2024, and will likely finish as the NL MVP runner-up to Shohei Ohtani. New York is currently tied with Atlanta for the final Wild Card spot with 13 games to play, and if Lindor isn’t a part of the stretch run, Gio doesn’t like the Mets’ chances of finishing the job.

“Fingers crossed that it’s just something where you take a day off here, get some rest and treatment and get back out there,” Gio said. “Or, its gonna be one of those things where you say ‘How in the hell, after everything that’s gone on in this season and how special it’s been, that this back injury crops up in the middle of September to derail their chances?’

“Waiting on those results…Carlos Mendoza, that entire clubhouse, Steve Cohen, and all Mets fans are gonna be waiting on pins and needles waiting to hear what’s going on.”