Now more than ever, the Mets need a healthy Lindor and Senga

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With less than two weeks left in the season, the club's fortunes will depend at least in part on the duo's ability to take the field.

Obviously, the Mets could use him. I'll let them explain the obvious for you:

Carlos Mendoza: “When he's not in the lineup, you see it.”

Edwin Diaz: “We feel bad, because we know we need him.”

JD Martinez: “Obviously, he's a big part of the team, but we've got other guys here that have to step up.”

Putting team needs aside for the moment, Lindor has done well in recent weeks to tighten up the National League MVP race. Popular opinion still has him behind Shohei Ohtani, however, so the longer Lindor's absence, the dimmer his MVP chances will become.

As for Senga, Mets officials plan a move to bring him back from the injured list as soon as he becomes eligible on Sept. 25 — the second game of a crucial three-game series in Atlanta that could make or break it. The entire Mets season.

It's unlikely that Senga, who has made just one start because of strains to his right posterior shoulder capsule and his left calf muscle, will stretch out enough to pitch deep into that game. But if he can deliver an inning or two as an opener before one of the other starters, it could give the team a significant boost against an injury-ravaged Braves offense.

“When he's healthy, man, when we saw him pitch that game against the Braves, it was electric,” Mendoza said, referring to Sanger's solo season debut on July 26. We can have this kind of conversation. I like where he is physically and hopefully he's a factor for us down the stretch.”

President of baseball operations David Stearns offered even more confidence over the weekend, saying he's “pretty optimistic” Senga will be able to pitch before the end of the regular season. And if that materializes, Senga will likely be lined up to provide additional outings in the Wild Card Series and beyond. The Mets will take what they can get from a pitcher who led the team in ERA, strikeouts and wins last season, who throws in the upper 90s and who features one of the game's most unique and effective off-speed arsenals.

While Mets officials have discussed the idea of ​​using Senga out of the bullpen (and the 31-year-old has said he's open to it), they're more likely to deploy him as an opener so he can pursue a more traditional, hard hitting pitch. Warmup routine.

“I don't want to go too far, but he's moving along well,” Mendoza said. “We'll see what we've got.”