Mets’ Francisco Lindor ready to face his former team in Cleveland

Perhaps his return to Cleveland will provide a needed offensive spark for the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor.

Set to face his former team in Cleveland for the first time since their trade three years ago, Lindor and the struggling Mets attempt to prevent the American League-leading Guardians from a fourth straight victory Monday night .

The shortstop became the face of the Cleveland franchise while slashing .285/.346/.488 with 138 homers, 411 RBIs and 99 steals from 2015 to 2020. However, this organization knew it couldn’t not afford a new contract for Lindor, who was traded to New York in January 2021.

He signed a massive 10-year, $341 million contract with the Mets, but hit no better than .270, had just one 30-homer season and struck out a total of 270 times in 2022 and 2023. Although Lindor had a one-out, RBI single in the 10th inning in New York’s 10-9 home win over Cleveland nearly a year ago, he returns to his first major league home with a club of the Mets who are four games under .500 in the middle of a 9-17 stretch.

“They mean a lot…They’re the team that raised me,” Lindor said before last season’s series with Cleveland.

“I care about them a lot. I love them.”

It will be interesting to see how Cleveland fans react to Lindor, who had two hits in New York’s 7-3 win at Miami on Sunday, but is hitting .197 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs, and fanning 32 times in 46 matches. season.

Lindor’s current club faces a major challenge in this three-game series against the Guardians, who have won six of seven overall and are on a 13-3 home streak.

“This group loves each other,” first-year Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.

“We’ve won enough games now — coming from behind, leading early, leading all the way — where we think we can win. And that’s what’s powerful.”

After taking a 2-1 lead into the ninth Sunday, Cleveland won 5-2 on a late three-run homer by Will Brennan to complete a three-game series against Minnesota.

Part of the Lindor trade, Cleveland second baseman Andres Gimenez hit a two-run homer in the first inning Sunday and is hitting .464 (13-for-28) with eight RBIs over the a seven-game hitting streak.

Gimenez and the Guardians get their first look at New York starter Tylor Megill (0-1, 2.25 ERA), who is expected to return after leaving after four innings of his season debut March 31 against Milwaukee with a knee problem. the shoulder. The Mets are eager to see what the right-hander, who set career highs with nine wins and 25 starts last season, can do in his return. He has never faced the Guardians.

“He’s healthy and I’m really looking forward to seeing him pitch on Monday, but also moving forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the New York Post.

The Guardians counter with Ben Lively (2-2, 3.06), who has allowed six runs and 13 hits in 10 2/3 of his last two starts – both on the road. However, the right-hander has allowed two runs and nine hits in 12 1/3 innings in his two home starts this season.

Lively is 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA in five appearances (four as a starter) against the Mets.

Lindor is 0-for-2 with a walk against Lively.

–Field level media