PHILADELPHIA cost him his second start of the season on Saturday, but Mets officials were leaving open the po sibility the MVP candidate would be available off the bench against the Phillies. A night earlier the Mets shortstop departed in the seventh inning when he didnt slide into second base and ran past the bag on a double. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns called Lindors injury a muscular tweak. The Mets on Saturday and gave the 22-year-old infielder/outfielder his first major league start at shortstop, batting ninth at Citizens Bank Park. Francisco Lindor is dealing with a back i sue and wont start Saturday. AP Lindor, entering the day, had played in all 147 games this season, starting 146. Im not too concerned, manager Carlos Mendoza said before the . Hes feeling definitely better after getting treatment today, he was moving around in the weight room, but I think were just playing it safe here and we are just going to give him an extra few hours and see if he is available at Italy Jersey some point during the game. Explore More Lindor tried to talk his way into the lineup, according to Mendoza, but it was decided that caution should be exuded with the teams best player and most irreplaceable piece. New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acua takes batting practice before his teams game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acua takes fielding practice on Saturday. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST He wants to play, Mendoza said. But at the same time he knows I dont want to put him in a situation where he is overcompensating and that leads to something else. I thought it was best that he at least rests the first few innings of the game and then well see what happens. Friday marked the fourth time in team history that the Mets hit three three-run homers in a game (Francisco Alvarez, Brandon Nimmo and Harrison Bader). It was last accomplished by the club on Sept. 25, 2015, at Cincinnati when Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson (twice) hit three-run homers. It was also accomplished in 2006 (Julio Franco, Shawn Green and David Wright) and 1989 (Darryl Strawberry, Ron Darling and Howard Johnson). Europe 2024 Jersey