Luis Robert Jr. is the fourth member of New York’s Opening Day starting lineup to land on the IL in April. Brad Penner / Imagn Images
April 30, 2026Updated 1:04 pm EDT
NEW YORK — The Mets’ injury issues continue to expand, with Luis Robert Jr. hitting the injured list with a lumbar spine disc herniation on Thursday.
Robert had been dealing with tightness in his lower back since Sunday and had an MRI on Wednesday. He got off to a hot start this season but has been slumping over the last two weeks. For the year, he’s hitting .224 with a .656 OPS.
Robert is slated to receive an epidural Thursday, then be shut down from activity for seven to 10 days before being reassessed. Even so, the Mets are optimistic that he shouldn’t need too much time to build back up and that his total stay on the IL might not be much longer than the 10-day minimum.
It remains concerning, though, that Robert landed on the IL in his first month as a Met even after the team took plenty of precautions with him. He had the slowest ramp-up of any position player at spring training, getting most of his action on the backfields before getting into games. Even into the regular season, the Mets gave Robert routine full days off; he started five consecutive games only once and hadn’t started more than three in a row in two weeks, when he started to feel the back tightness.
“It is frustrating,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s super frustrated. He’s done everything we’re asking him to do. We’ve tried to protect him with the off days and the ramp-up through spring training. We’ve got to get him back right.”
The center fielder is the fourth member of New York’s Opening Day starting lineup to land on the IL in April. While Juan Soto has returned from the calf strain that cost him 19 games, Francisco Lindor is expected to miss significant time with a more severe version of that injury. Jorge Polanco also has an unclear timetable for his return from wrist and heel ailments.
The injuries have exacerbated a putrid start from the Mets’ offense, which has been the prime culprit in a brutal 10-20 start to the season.
Eric Wagaman, claimed last week off waivers from the Twins, was recalled to take Robert’s spot on the roster. The Mets also designated pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. for assignment — his reward for eating six innings in long relief over the last four days — and promoted Austin Warren to aid the bullpen.
Apr 30, 2026
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