PITTSBURGH — To steal a lyric from one of his walk-up songs at Citi Field, there “ain’t no valley low enough” for Francisco Lindor these days.
The Mets shortstop went 0-for-4 Sunday to continue a June swoon in which he’s posted a .628 OPS.
There have been few places for Lindor to hide, as the Mets have lost 13 of 16 games, with the lineup sputtering.
Lindor’s .774 OPS overall is the lowest it has been since April 20.
“I feel like I have got pitches to hit, but I just haven’t got the barrel to it,” Lindor said after the Mets lost 12-1 to the Pirates at PNC Park. “When I just miss it, today I had three pop-ups and then I lined out. I think two of them were [hit hard], but it’s just coming down to execution.”
Lindor fractured his right pinky toe on June 4 — and was playing through discomfort at least initially — but wouldn’t directly say if the injury was contributing to his recent offensive drop-off.
“My mechanics are not in the right spot, but they are not as bad [as they were],” Lindor said. “I have just got to keep my head on the ball as long as I can and get the barrel through the baseball. My toe is my toe. It’s part of being a professional baseball player…. I have just got to be better.”
Jesse Winker, who is rehabbing an oblique strain, went 1-for-1 with a walk as the DH for Single-A Brooklyn in his first minor league rehab game.
Richard Lovelady, who elected free agency earlier in the week after he was designated for assignment by the Mets, returned on a major league contract and pitched two innings.
The left-hander allowed two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Colin Poche was designated for assignment to create space for Lovelady.
Carlos Mendoza didn’t have an immediate update on Sean Manaea, who was scheduled to throw a bullpen session.
The left-hander, who is dealing with a loose body in his left elbow, was scratched last week from his potentially final rehab start. Manaea had been rehabbing an oblique strain.
