Lindor set for two-inning simulated game Friday as Mets weigh his next step back

The Mets are preparing for a potential return window for Francisco Lindor, with the team’s plan for the All-Star shortstop moving to a more concrete phase. Yahoo Sports reported that Lindor is set to play in a two-inning simulated game on Friday, framing it as another step in a progression that has him drawing closer to rejoining the Mets in regular action.

A two-inning simulation matters because it is more than a light workout or stationary baseball activity. Simulated games are typically used to test how a player handles extended time on the field, on-the-ball decision making, and the rhythm of full-speed at-bats and throws in game-like conditions. While it is still not a guarantee of a return, it is often the point where teams can begin tightening the timeline based on how the player responds.

For New York, Lindor’s status is more than a personal milestone. He is a centerpiece at shortstop, with responsibilities that extend to both run prevention and lineup stability. When a team is balancing the day-to-day realities of replacing a star infielder, the return plan affects everything from defensive matchups to the order in which the club can settle into a consistent routine.

The report positions Friday’s session as part of a sequence toward a return, suggesting Lindor’s workload has already advanced beyond earlier rehab-style activities. Still, the Mets have not indicated in the information available here that Lindor has been cleared to play in an upcoming official game, and simulated work does not eliminate the possibility of additional check-ins or delay if the player’s condition requires it.

This kind of milestone can also serve as a decision point for how the Mets handle the infield in the short term. Even when a return is near, clubs often maintain flexible options in case the simulated game produces a minor setback or the team prefers additional live reps. Until there is confirmation from the team and the regular-season lineup, Mets fans should treat the Friday simulation as progress, not a certainty.

What to watch next is straightforward: whether Lindor completes the two innings without reported limitations, whether the Mets discuss subsequent steps after the session, and when his name appears in operational planning for upcoming games. If the club moves him from simulation to another higher-intensity phase, it would indicate the Mets are converging toward a return schedule. If not, the organization may continue to extend the ramp-up to protect his availability.

In the broader MLB picture, moments like this can have ripple effects for roster roles and late-summer shape, because elite middle infielders often change how managers can distribute at-bats and defensive responsibilities. For now, the focus remains on Friday’s two-inning test, a relatively modest-looking event that can quietly determine whether Lindor’s return is measured in days or weeks.