New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor announced on his Instagram on Wednesday that he will be the captain for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Lindor will once again play for his home country in next year's WBC after also playing for Team Puerto Rico in 2023, when they ended up being eliminated in the quarterfinals against Mexico. The 31-year-old All-Star is one of the top fantasy shortstops in the game, although he hasn't really gotten off to an outstanding start to the 2025 campaign. The former first-rounder (eighth overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2011 entered Wednesday's action with just one home run and a .234/.288/.344 slash line with a .631 OPS in 16 games played. The switch-hitter should be just fine, though, and he extended his modest hitting streak to five games with one hit in Wednesday's loss to the Minnesota Twins.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had a standout offensive game for several reasons in Monday's 2-0 win over the Marlins. Lindor went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored. He saved the most important hit for last, as his fifth-inning hit off of Tyler Phillips was the 1,500th of his career. The 31-year-old has been a high-end fantasy option throughout his career, and he still has plenty left to give to fantasy managers. His 2025 season has started a bit slowly with a .242/.308/.303 slash line, no home runs, five runs scored, three RBI, and two stolen bases in 39 plate appearances. However, fantasy managers should not worry this early on, as Lindor has been a five-category fantasy contributor in each of his last three seasons.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (personal) is back in the lineup on Tuesday and batting leadoff. The 4x All-Star was absent from Monday's contest for the birth of his son. The switch-hitter is 0-for-11 to begin 2025 with a 0:3 BB:K and will look to collect his first hit of the season against former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, whom he has had some success against in the past. For his career, the 31-year-old is 7-for-25 (.280) with two doubles, a home run, and a 3:4 BB:K. The Mets are favored in this game, so Lindor could be on the DFS radar, however, with a 7.5 o/u, there aren't a lot of runs expected.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is out of the starting lineup on Monday on the road in Miami against the division-rival Marlins for the birth of his son, Koa, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. With Lindor out on Monday for the start of a series in Miami, Luisangel Acuna will start at the 6 and will bat eighth against Marlins right-hander Cal Quantrill. It remains to be seen if Lindor will be back in the Mets' lineup for Tuesday's contest, so fantasy managers will need to check back then. The four-time All-Star is still searching for his first hit of 2025 after going hitless in 13 trips to the plate with an RBI and three strikeouts in the three-game series against the Houston Astros last week. Acuna, meanwhile, is also hitless in the first three games of the year, going 0-for-4 with a steal, a walk and two strikeouts. He has never faced Quantrill in his career.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is leaning towards putting shortstop Francisco Lindor at the top of the batting order and recently acquired outfielder Juan Soto in the two-hole. Lindor spent most of the 2025 campaign batting in the top spot and performed very well. When batting first, Lindor posted a stellar .303/.374/.552 line with 26 home runs and 31 doubles. He held a 42:97 BB:K ratio. He generated a .379 xwOBA, placing him in the 95th percentile among qualified hitters. Juan Soto spent his entire 2024 season batting in the two-hole with the Yankees. He posted a .288/.419/.569 line with a career-best 41 home runs. He showed an elite eye at the plate with an 18.1 percent walk rate. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo to bat behind them, providing them with elite RBI opportunities.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) was on pace to play 162 games last season before going down with an injury in September. Head coach Carlos Mendoza was asked if Lindor would have rest days throughout the season because of the back issue. It doesn't sound like that is the plan right now as Lindor himself said the MLB does a good job of scheduling off days, so he doesn't sound like he'll need additional time. Fantasy managers should expect Lindor to be ready to go for the beginning of the season. He has played over 150 games in each of the last three seasons, so fantasy managers should expect more of the same in 2025.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Tuesday that shortstop Francisco Lindor will hit leadoff again in 2025. New outfielder Juan Soto has mostly hit second or third in his career, but Mendoza won't reveal more of expected lineup spots until he talks with Soto, first baseman Pete Alonso and others. The 31-year-old Lindor slashed a strong .273/.344/.500 with 33 home runs, 29 stolen bases, 91 RBI and 107 runs scored in 152 regular-season games and should be even more productive in the run-scoring department with Soto now added to the Mets' lineup. He was just one steal shy of back-to-back 30-homer, 30-steal campaigns, and he also finished second in the National League behind Shohei Ohtani in fWAR. There's a lot to like here, which is why RotoBaller has Lindor ranked as the No. 5 fantasy shortstop entering the 2025 season.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) said that the back issue that caused him to miss some games in September hasn't been a problem during offseason workouts. Lindor will continue to monitor his back, but he looks set for a fully healthy offseason. The 31-year-old was forced to miss over a week due to his nagging back injury in the middle of a postseason run late in September. The Mets eventually clinched a wild-card spot and advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lindor didn't look hampered by his back in the playoffs, hitting .275 in 13 games played. He should be fully healthy for spring training and the start of the 2025 campaign. Lindor could lose Pete Alonso as lineup protection, but he's already gained Juan Soto, who should drive him in plenty. He was one steal shy of a 30-30 season in 2024 and remains an elite fantasy shortstop.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor set the tone in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers with a leadoff home run. The 30-year-old fought through an eight-pitch at-bat, fouling off three straight two-strike pitches before sending a Ryan Brasier cutter over the fence. The switch hitter finished 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in the contest, which has been much of the same over the course of this postseason. The 4x All-Star has just a .235 average (8-for-34), but with an 8:8 BB:K he's sporting a strong .372 OBP with seven RBI and eight runs scored. He'll look to continue his clutch hitting Wednesday in New York versus Walker Buehler, who he is 1-for-2 off of in his career with the one hit coming via a home run.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor came up clutch once again on Wednesday, smacking a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning of the series-clinching 4-1 win over the Phillies. The 30-year-old also hit a double, finishing the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. The slam was his first home run in seven postseason games thus far and the switch-hitter is 7-for-27 overall (.259) in the playoffs, but he's had a knack for coming up big when the Mets need him the most lately. The 4x All-Star will get a few days of rest before the Mets take on the winner of the Dodgers/Padres series in the NLCS.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor came up clutch for the Mets in Game 3 of the Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, getting on base three times and scoring a run in a 4-2 win. Lindor had a double and a single early on in this one, but his biggest plate appearance came in the ninth inning. He went down 1-2 in the count to Brewers closer Devin Williams before drawing a walk, which set the table for Pete Alonso to smash a three-run homer later in the inning. Lindor has been fantastic all season and so far has continued that in the playoffs. He and the Mets will head to Philadelphia for the NLDS against the Phillies.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor stepped up when it mattered most in Monday's Game 1 8-7 win over the Braves. Lindor went 2-for-5 with a single, a two-run home run, and three RBI. With their playoff hopes on the line, Lindor came to the plate in the top of the ninth inning down by one with a runner on first and one out. He sent a Pierce Johnson breaking ball just over the fence into the right-center bullpen to put the Mets up for good. The 30-year-old finished the regular season with excellent all-around numbers, slashing .273/.344/.500 with 33 HR, 107 runs scored, 91 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 689 plate appearances. His batting average has waivered at times throughout his career, but he has consistently shown the ability to be a high-end, five-category fantasy contributor.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor showed why he is an MVP candidate on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two stolen bases in a much-needed 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Lindor also walked, scored two runs, and drove in two. The switch-hitter will look to repeat his performance on Monday and send the Mets to the playoffs. He now has 32 homers and 29 steals on the season, so a stolen base will get him to the 30/30 mark. Lindor is one of the best five-category contributors in baseball and will be an early pick at a loaded shortstop position in fantasy drafts next year.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) is back at shortstop and is hitting leadoff in Friday's series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Frankie Montas at American Family Field. Lindor missed each of the team's previous eight games due to a nagging back injury that required an injection, but he was back in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the division-rival Atlanta Braves before the rest of that big series was rained out. It's great news for the Mets as they look to lock down one of the final wild-card spots in the National League before the playoffs begin next week. The 30-year-old has played at an MVP level in 2024, but he could struggle to recapture his pre-injury form, making him a risk in DFS lineups. In 11 career at-bats versus Montas, Lindor is hitting .364 with a 1.045 OPS. Before missing time with his back injury, Lindor was riding a modest four-game hitting streak.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) was listed in the team's starting lineup at shortstop while batting leadoff on Wednesday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves and left-hander Chris Sale before the contest was postponed due to inclement weather. Thursday's series finale between the two teams battling for two of the remaining National League wild-card spots was also shut down, so the Mets and Braves will have to wrap this series up with a doubleheader on Monday. Lindor and the Mets will now have two days off before facing the Milwaukee Brewers on the road on Friday. As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks the next two days, Lindor should be available to the Mets to close out the regular season. The 30-year-old has missed the team's last eight games due to a nagging back injury but is on the cusp of a return.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) "could be in play" to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest at Truist Park against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Lindor was in the on-deck circle ready to pinch hit in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss if the Mets got anybody on base, but that did not come to pass. The 30-year-old has been dealing with a nagging back issue that has kept him out for each of the team's last eight games, but he's hopeful of returning to the lineup before the end of the week as the Mets look to keep themselves in the wild-card picture in the National League. They enter Wednesday's action in the second wild-card spot, half a game ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Check back later to see if Lindor is active. If he's not, it will likely be impressive rookie Luisangel Acuna manning the 6 yet again for New York.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) did not play in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Braves but did appear in the on-deck circle, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Lindor swung a bat in an indoor cage for most of the game in case he was needed. The 30-year-old has not played since September 15 due to a back injury. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that "he was good enough to play today," and described Lindor as "in play" to start on Wednesday. Lindor's return would be a huge boost for fantasy managers and the Mets in the final days of the season, as he has put up a .271/.342/.494 slash line with 31 home runs, 103 runs scored, 86 RBI, and 27 stolen bases in 670 plate appearances.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) had a bone scan of his back on Monday that confirmed he doesn't have any structural damage. Lindor said he could pinch hit as soon as Tuesday's series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The bad news, though, is that Lindor is still feeling discomfort and was wearing a heavy heat wrap around his back while doing some running before the game on Tuesday. The 30-year-old missed his eighth straight game on Tuesday due to a back injury but is still hoping to return at some point in the final week of the regular season to try and get his team into the playoffs next month. Lindor is having a fantastic season in 2024, but this is the worst possible time for New York to be without its best player. Rookie Luisangel Acuna has looked great early on since his call-up, but the Mets would surely prefer if Lindor could overcome his back injury.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) remains out of the starting lineup for the opener of a huge divisional series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday. Rookie infielder Luisangel Acuna will make yet another start at the 6 and will bat ninth against Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach. Lindor continues to deal with a nagging back issue and will miss his eighth straight start as a result. The 30-year-old received an injection in his back recently and hopes to return to the lineup soon to help the Mets try and secure a wild-card spot in the National League. Lindor has had an MVP-like season in 2024, so not having his bat in the lineup at this crucial point in the season is bad news for the Mets. Acuna hasn't looked like a rookie in his nine games played since debuting on Sept. 14, going 11-for-29 (.379) with three homers, two doubles, a triple and six RBI.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) is not 100% sure he will play again in the regular season but feels optimistic he will. Lindor has missed the last seven games with a back injury and seemed to be on pace to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, but that may not be the case. The Mets will surely want their MVP candidate back in the lineup for a pivotal three-game series with their division rivals, but if Lindor doesn't get the go-ahead from team doctors then the decision won't be the Mets to make. Fantasy managers will have to be active in checking updates to make sure they know if Lindor is in the lineup or not come Tuesday, and should have a backup plan in case he can't go.