Francisco Alvarez was the catcher and Edwin Diaz was on the mound in Brooklyn on Sunday, and those two will need to play key roles in the rebuild in Queens if the Mets have any chance of making a convincing case for not selling at the trade deadline.
And Alvarez is likely to return when the Mets face the awful Marlins in their home opener at Citi Field on Tuesday, with Diaz also expected to return this week.
The Mets haven’t been able to get the most out of either player, as Alvarez has been out since April 19 with a thumb injury and Diaz remains on the disabled list with a right shoulder injury.
Even before Diaz went on the disabled list, the closer hadn’t come close to his typical level of success — especially recently.
Diaz started the 2024 season somewhat better, but then had a major downturn after missing all of last year with a torn patella in his right knee.
The right-hander has allowed eight earned runs, 10 hits and two home runs in just 4 1/3 innings over his last five appearances.
He doesn’t throw his four-seam fastball as fast as it did two years ago, when Diaz had a great season and became a sensation in Queens.
While a return to that level may be unrealistic, the Mets will be hoping Diaz can repeat the form he showed through his first 10 games this season, allowing just eight baserunners in 9 2/3 innings.
He looked good in two rehab outings with High-A Brooklyn and should provide a much-needed boost to a bullpen depleted by injuries and overuse.
But the Mets have struggled offensively at the position, with a combined OPS of .595 ranking 22nd in the majors, so Alvarez’s return is expected to have an even bigger impact on the team.
The addition of Luis Torrens to play alongside Tomas Nido helped after the release of Omar Narvaez, and Alvarez also struggled at the plate when he went down with a torn thumb ligament that required surgery.
Alvarez hit 25 home runs last year but has just one in 59 at-bats this year and is just three for 19 in six minor league rehab games. But the Mets are hopeful Alvarez can get better as he gets healthy.
Coming off a series against the Phillies in London, the Mets had won four of their last five games and entered Monday just three games out of a wild-card spot.
And team owner Steve Cohen pointed out over the weekend that the team is not out of playoff contention.
Still, the Mets are eight games under .500 and have long looked far from being postseason contenders.
The presence of a former All-Star closer and a 22-year-old catcher who hit more home runs than any other player at his position in the National League last year should help.
So should the schedule, which sees the Marlins, who have the worst record in the National League, then face the Padres at Citi Field before playing away series against the Rangers and Cubs.
None of those teams have a winning percentage above .500, and the next time the Mets face a winning team will be when they host the Yankees at home later this month.
“Right now we’re just focused on winning games,” team owner Steve Cohen said in London. “The trade deadline is seven weeks away, we have 45 to 50 games and a lot can happen. So right now we’re just focused on the season and winning games. [the trade deadline] When the time is right.”
Maybe Alvarez and Diaz can change that.
