Mets’ Lindor back in lineup at shortstop after finger injury

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Francisco Lindor returned to the New York Mets’ lineup Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers after missing the first game of the series when he slammed his finger while closing a hotel door.

Lindor said he was told by trainers after getting an X-ray Thursday that he has a fracture somewhere in the tip of his right middle finger, but it is not much of a concern. Lindor went out and threw on the field before manager Buck Showalter inserted him into the lineup at shortstop.

“It feels like I don’t have a fingerprint, but I was able to throw,” Lindor said in the clubhouse after going through fielding drills. “That was the one thing I was a little more concerned about.”

Lindor was closing one of two double doors in his hotel room, shortly after the Mets arrived in Los Angeles, when his finger got slammed. The nail bed remains blackened, but the swelling has subsided.

Lindor and the Mets are hoping that the injury does not cool him off. He is fourth in the majors with 43 RBIs and fifth in runs scored with 37.

Over his last 18 games, Lindor is batting .324 with three home runs, 24 RBIs and three stolen bases. He has raised his batting average 30 points to .261 during that span.

The Mets went into Friday night’s game 35-18 and with an 9 1/2-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East.

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