Mets’ Concern Over Alvarez’s Injury

The Mets didn’t provide updates on Francisco Alvarez’s MRI as of Monday, following the catcher injuring his right thumb during a game in Seattle. It’s clear they can’t afford to lose him for an extended period.

Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed “concern” over Alvarez’s thumb during Sunday evening’s comments. This isn’t the first time Alvarez has faced such issues; he underwent surgery on his left thumb last year after sustaining an injury while swinging.

Despite facing setbacks during his youth career, which included being sent to Triple-A Syracuse in June after a rough start, Alvarez made a strong comeback. Just a month later, his performance had improved significantly.

After his impressive three-hit game on Sunday, Alvarez raised his OPS to 1.054, recording 11 extra-base hits in 21 games since returning from Syracuse. He’s been on fire lately, generating six extra-base hits in his last five games behind the plate.

A National League scout noted that Alvarez had clearly benefitted from adjustments, mentioning, “What he did as a minor or whatever they did with him worked.” However, he cautioned that this recent injury could sideline him for the remainder of the season, pointing out that Alvarez sometimes takes time to bounce back after a setback.

If Alvarez is out, the Mets will have to rely on backup Louis Torrens. Unfortunately, of the 36 catchers with over 220 plate appearances this season, Torrens has the second-lowest OPS.

The Mets find themselves in a precarious spot, currently sitting second in the NL East and third in wild card standings. Their next series against the Nationals and the Braves will be critical, followed by upcoming games against the Phillies and Marlins, and then travel to face the top-ranked teams, including Detroit and Philadelphia.

In other news, Francisco Lindor was named NL Player of the Week on Monday. He had struggled initially in August but broke out against the Braves on August 12, and in his last five games has shown remarkable consistency. He recorded five multi-hit games, hitting 13-for-21 with three doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs, and a stolen base.

Despite the Mets dropping three of those games, Lindor’s performance often mirrors the team’s overall success. This season, his OPS stands at .991 during victories compared to just .535 in losses.

Additionally, the Mets announced they requested a waiver for the unconditional release of Paul Blackburn, who was previously sidelined with right knee inflammation and had a 6.85 ERA over seven games during his season debut.