Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor’s earliest return to the lineup from a back injury likely is Tuesday night’s series opener at the Braves.

Lindor missed five straight games entering Saturday and had played only one inning in the past seven games.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor felt better Saturday and hoped to run sprints, hit and take ground balls. Lindor received a numbing injection on Thursday for the facet joints on each side of the spine. Mendoza said he envisioned Lindor will return at shortstop and not designated hitter.

“I think we’re looking at him being a full player for us,” Mendoza said. “DHing he’s going to have to hit and then sit down and somehow he’s going to have to try and stay hot. We haven’t got to that point, but the way we see it is when he’s ready to go, he’s playing shortstop for us.”

All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams was demoted to the minor leagues by the Nationals on Saturday for a reason not related to his on-field performance and is not expected to play for them the rest of the season.

Golf: Matteo Manassero has moved into position to win the prestigious BMW PGA Championship for a second time by shooting 9-under 63 to take a three-stroke lead after the third round. He won the title 11 years ago as a 20-year-old prodigy.

NFL: The Texans will be without their leading rusher in Week 3 as running back Joe Mixon will not travel to face the Vikings. ... Raiders pass rusher Malcolm Koonce, who injured a knee shortly before the season opener, will miss the rest of the season. ... Jaguars tight end Evan Engram will miss Monday’s game against the Bills with a hamstring injury.

Tennis: Beatriz Haddad Maia pulled double duty to beat the Kudermetova sisters in back-to-back singles matches at the Korea Open, reaching the final to face top-seeded Daria Kasatkina.