New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was not in the starting lineup once again for Thursday’s opener of a key four-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.Lindor missed each of the Mets’ previous three games with a lower back injury and has played just two innings of the past five games.Without Lindor in the lineup, the Mets swept their three-game series against the Washington Nationals. They are in possession of the National League’s third wild-card spot, two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves at the start of MLB play Thursday.The Mets and Braves meet for three games next week in Atlanta.Lindor had an MRI on his back that came back clean on Monday, but his timetable for a return remains in question. He was optimistic he would be back before the end of the regular season.