Of the many injured players scattered around the Mets roster, perhaps none is more important than Francisco Lindor.
As The Post has previously reported, the shortstop is expected back from the left calf strain that’s sidelined him since late April sometime later this month.
Asked Tuesday about a potential timeline for a return, Lindor told The Post he didn’t have one.
“I have a goal of getting back as soon as I can,’’ Lindor said before the Mets’ 7-0 loss to the Cardinals at Citi Field.
He doesn’t seem to be too far off.
As Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets’ 7-0 loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday night at Citi Field, Lindor is expected to go through full baseball activities this week and then the team will decide his next step.
He has yet to run the bases, but Lindor said, “I can do everything. I feel like I’m getting better. I continue to check all the boxes they have for me.”
Running at full speed will be among the final tests and Lindor said he is encouraged by how he’s feeling.
“There’s no discomfort, so it would be silly to say [I’m not encouraged],’’ Lindor said. “Obviously, I want to be playing, but from what they say, everything is going the way it was planned.”
Lindor suffered the injury April 22 — the same day Juan Soto returned from his strained calf.
The inability of the two stars to stay on the field together for any length of time has been one of the Mets’ issues this season.
It’s safe to assume Lindor will need a rehab assignment before he can provide a much-needed return to the lineup.
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Mendoza said an MRI exam on Jorge Polanco’s ankle was clean and that the team would adjust his pregame running routine, as well as stop him from playing defense.
Whenever Polanco does return, first base is likely not an option for the foreseeable future.
Another first baseman in the organization, prospect Ryan Clifford, continues to need development and Mendoza said he needs more playing time at Triple-A Syracuse before he is an option at the major league level.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
