Mets' Francisco Lindor scratched with soreness on right side

NEW YORK -- Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was scratched because of soreness on his right side about 30 minutes before the first pitch Friday night against Atlanta, ending his streak of consecutive games played at 223.

New York said it would have an update on Lindor after he undergoes testing Saturday. The star shortstop missed five weeks with a right oblique strain in 2021.

Lindor has been one of the few bright spots this season for the retooled Mets, who are 52-63 after dealing away six veterans at the trade deadline. He is hitting .440 during a seven-game hitting streak and batting .246 overall with 22 homers, 69 RBI, 18 stolen bases and an .803 OPS.

Lindor hadn't missed a game since June 2, 2022, when he sat out against the Los Angeles Dodgers after slamming a hotel door on his finger. He started all but one of the Mets' first 114 games this season. The 29-year-old switch-hitter appeared as a pinch-hitter June 17 hours after his wife, Katia, gave birth to the couple's second child.

New York replaced Lindor at shortstop with Jonathan Araúz, who batted ninth. Arauz was 0 for 2 in the 7-0 loss.