Mets targeting to have injured Francisco Lindor back in time to face Braves

Francisco Lindor will almost assuredly miss one of the biggest series of the season.But the Mets hope their shortstop will be back for their biggest series of the season.Lindor was out of the lineup for a sixth straight game with an ailing back on Saturday.The Mets will finish this series against the Phillies at Citi Field on Sunday before an off day Monday leading into a three-game showdown in Atlanta on Tuesday.Tuesday is the day to circle — or at least the earliest day — for Lindor to find his way back to shortstop.“That’s the most likely scenario here,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.Lindor feels “better,” Mendoza added, before the team’s MVP went through a workout Saturday.

Lindor played catch, took batting practice from both the right and left sides and went through half-effort sprints in the outfield.Mendoza mentioned that Lindor might take ground balls, although he did not on the field at least.Mendoza again referred to Lindor as day to day.

The team’s rock, who had played in each of the first 147 games of the season before hurting his back in Philadelphia on Sept.13, received a facet shot Thursday in an effort to speed up the progress....