PHILADELPHIA — Something strange happened at Citizens Bank Park on Friday. Mets infielder Jose Iglesias lined up as shortstop and infielder Eddy Alvarez came in to play second baseman.

Moments later, the Mets announced the news – get ready – that the 2024 NL MVP candidate had been removed from the roster due to lower back pain.

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The injury likely occurred early in the sixth inning when Lindor attempted to avoid a hit from the second baseman and took an unfortunate fall.

Despite a slow start to the season with 1 for 31 (batting average of .032) in the first eight games and a batting average of .195 with an OPS of .630 in 44 games, a simple lineup change allowed Lindor to be named MVP.

He moved up to the leadoff position, which he hadn’t reached since 2021, and suddenly resembled the player New York traded for and signed to a 10-year contract extension in 2021.

In the 102 games since then, Lindor has posted a batting average of .299/.369/.545 with 24 home runs, 64 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Over that span, he leads the NL with a 6.6 fWAR – the next best player, Giants first baseman Matt Chapman, has a 4.5 fWAR over that span.

This season, Lindor has a .270 batting average and an .834 OPS. He leads Dodgers hitter Shohei Ohtani (7.0 fWAR) in the NL in fWAR (7.3).

Lindor was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI against the Phillies on Friday.