Lindor, Mets Benefiting From Lineup Shake-up

On May 17, the New York Mets fell to 20-24 after an 8-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. Francisco Lindor, hitting third in the lineup, went 1-for-4 that night, leaving his slash line at .195/.268/.362/.630 through 44 games. The Mets were shut out for the second time in four days as the offense struggles continued. Carlos Mendoza completely overhauled the lineup the following day, moving Lindor into the leadoff spot and putting Brandon Nimmo into the three-hole. The Mets were searching for any answer to reignite their shortstop’s bat and the entire lineup. A month later, it is clear that Mendoza made the right call.

Over the last 29 games, Lindor has hit .300/.366/.508/.874 with five home runs, 15 total extra-base hits and 16 RBIs out of the leadoff spot. He has recorded at least one hit in 21 of those games and has 11 multi-hit games over that stretch. During this extended period, he has raised his batting average from .195 to .238 and his on-base percentage plus slugging percentage from .630 to .730. This run of quality at-bats has given the Mets’ offense a critical boost, a group that has scored 5.31 runs per game over their last 29 games with him in the lineup. Lindor has answered the call at such a critical point in the season for the Mets.

FAMILIARITY IN THAT ROLE

Lindor had just four starts in the leadoff role for the Mets before this season, with all of those coming during the 2021 season. While that is true, he does have quite a bit of experience in that role. Lindor started 380 games in the leadoff spot over the first six seasons of his career with the Cleveland Guardians. 294 of those starts came in 2018 and 2019. Not only is he familiar with the role but has had quite a bit of success in it.

In 2018, he slashed .274/.347/.517/.864 with 37 home runs, 90 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 720 plate appearances out of the leadoff spot. In the following season, he slashed .285/.337/.520/.857 with 32 home runs, 73 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 651 plate appearances as Cleveland’s lead hitter. It had been a while since Lindor got an extended run in this role. But right now, he looks comfortable and confident in that spot for the Mets.

Will Mendoza keep Lindor in the leadoff spot permanently? Perhaps, although he has been willing to move guys around when the hits have been scarce. A 162-game season has ups and downs, even for All-Star-level players. But with how Lindor has looked over the last month, he has been excellent as a table setter.

NIMMO GETTING COMFORTABLE IN A DIFFERENT SPOT

Shifting Lindor into the leadoff spot has shuffled others around. Nimmo, the team’s primary leadoff hitter for the last two years, moved to third in the lineup. He struggled in the spot, dealing with a ton of swing and miss. In 20 starts as the three-hitter, Nimmo was 18-for-80 with a .641 OPS. He struck out 34 times during that stretch. The Mets felt another change for him was necessary, moving him to second in the lineup ahead of their series finale against the Marlins on June 13. It is a small sample size, but numbers suggest that Nimmo may have turned a corner offensively.

The outfielder is slashing .429/.484/.714/1.198 with two home runs, eight RBIs and just four strikeouts in seven games as the two-hitter. Nimmo has four multi-hit games in his last six, including home runs in two of his last three. A positive sign for the days and weeks ahead. Will he be able to continue at this pace? Probably not, but this is the version of him that fans have grown to love. A confident Nimmo is a difference-maker offensively. Right now, he looks comfortable and effective hitting second in the lineup.

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