Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Tracking toward return on homestand
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Alvarez (hand) could be activated from the 10-day injured list before the team's homestand ends April 23, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez will catch back-to-back, nine-inning rehab games with Double-A Binghamton on Friday and Saturday and, if that goes well, the club will have "a conversation" about the catcher's status, per Mendoza. A day of rest seems likely after Alvarez catches back-to-back contests, which points to a return Monday versus the Phillies. Alvarez is coming back from surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Will be fine after HBP scare
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Alvarez is "fine" after having to exit Tuesday's rehab game with Double-A Binghamton following a hit-by-pitch on his surgically repaired left hand, SNY.tv reports.
Alvarez initially stayed in the game after being plunked but was eventually removed. However, he has evidently checked out fine and the incident shouldn't alter when he will be activated for his season debut, which will be soon. Alvarez had surgery back in early March on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Ready for rehab assignment
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Alvarez (hand) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Single-A St. Lucie, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 23-year-old took live batting practice Tuesday, and that was apparently the final hurdle before being cleared for game action. Alvarez has been sidelined for the past month due to a hamate fracture in his left hand for which he underwent surgery, and he'll likely need at least a handful of games in the minors to get up to speed before making his 2025 debut for the Mets.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Taking BP on the field Tuesday
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Alvarez (hand) took live batting practice on the field Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez had been hitting in the cage, but Tuesday marked the first time that he took batting practice on the field since he underwent surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand back on March 10. While the Mets haven't revealed a specific timetable for their starting catcher's return, Alvarez's recovery has come along nicely, and he could make it back before the end of April if all goes well.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Hitting in cage Friday
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Alvarez (hand) will catch a bullpen session and hit in the batting cage Friday, SNY.tv reports.
Alvarez is ramping up baseball activities as he works his way back from surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. There is no firm timeline yet for Alvarez's return, but he could still rejoin the Mets before the end of April.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Stitches removed from hand
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Alvarez had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand Monday and will begin strengthening exercises, SNY.tv reports.
After Alvarez has regained the necessary strength in his hand, he will progress to baseball activities. Alvarez is a little over two weeks into a projected 6-to-8 week timetable for his return, so he could make it back before the end of April if everything goes well. In the meantime, Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger will handle the catching duties for the Mets.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Out with hand fracture
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Alvarez has been diagnosed with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand and will be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks after he undergoes surgery Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Alvarez last saw Grapefruit League action Friday against the Nationals, but it's unclear exactly how he suffered the injury. The 23-year-old missed over seven weeks in 2024 due to a torn UCL in his left thumb, and he struggled to find much consistency when healthy with 11 home runs and a .237/.307/.403 slash line over 100 regular-season games. Making his 2025 debut in late April is likely the best-case scenario while coming back from a fracture in his glove hand, but there's a real chance Alvarez doesn't return from the injured list until May. Luis Torrens is poised to take over as the No. 1 catcher in the interim, though the Mets could look outside the organization to bolster their depth behind the plate.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Breather in second game
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Perhaps Alvarez would have gotten the start had the Mets failed to capture the first game, but since they did win that contest it makes it an easy decision to rest him for this one. Luis Torrens will catch and bat eighth.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Back in lineup
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Alvarez (back) is starting at catcher and batting eighth for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Alvarez left Friday's game against Milwaukee due to back spasms. That kept him out of Saturday's lineup, though he did manage to pinch hit for Luis Torrens in the top of the eighth inning. Since Sept. 1, Alvarez has slashed .231/.355/.538 with five home runs and 14 RBI over 62 plate appearances.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Exits early Friday
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Alvarez was removed from Friday's game against the Brewers with back spasms, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez was grabbing at his back immediately after sliding into third base during the seventh inning and stayed on the ground for some time before being helped into the dugout by the Mets' trainers. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but Luis Torrens would be the next man up behind the dish if Alvarez needs to miss some time.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Power surge continues
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Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Phillies.
The 22-year-old catcher stayed hot, taking Ranger Suarez deep for a solo shot in the second inning before adding a two-run double in the seventh off Orion Kerkering. Alvarez has 11 homers on the season, and five of them have come in his last nine games -- a stretch in which he's batting .286 (8-for-28) with 13 RBI.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Not in Friday's lineup
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Alvarez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Alvarez homered Thursday for the second time over the last three games, but he will be given a day of rest Friday. Luis Torrens will catch for the Mets and bat seventh.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Receiving day off
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Alvarez will receive a break after making five straight starts, during which he went 5-for-18 with two homers and six RBI. Luis Torrens is working behind the plate Sunday for lefty David Peterson.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Receiving Sunday off
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Alvarez started the first two games of the series but will sit for the finale after going 0-for-5 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch and two strikeouts. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Luis Severino.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Getting Thursday off
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Alvarez isn't in the Mets' lineup for Thursday's game against Arizona.
After logging a base hit and an RBI in both of the first two games of the series, Alvarez will now take a seat for Thursday's finale. Luis Torrens will catch instead for left-hander David Peterson and bat ninth.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Receiving break Sunday
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Alvarez is in the midst of a 3-for-42 slump and will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale in San Diego. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate to catch for lefty Jose Quintana.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Sitting out Wednesday
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Alvarez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Alvarez started behind the plate for both of the first two games of the series but will begin Wednesday's finale on the bench. Luis Torrens will handle catching duties for the Mets.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Plays hero Monday
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Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Monday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.
Alvarez took Seranthony Dominguez yard on a 3-0 pitch with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, breaking the 3-3 tie and giving New York the victory. Alvarez is 10-for-44 (.227) with a home run and a triple in August.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Out of lineup Thursday
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Alvarez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Colorado, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez was behind the plate for Wednesday's 5-3 win, but Luis Torrens started at catcher in the series opener and is back in the lineup for the finale. Alvarez did come off the bench in the middle of Tuesday's game and delivered a hit, so it's possible the Mets look to sub him in for Torrens at some point Thursday.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Idle Tuesday
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Alvarez isn't in the Mets' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies.
Alvarez will get a breather Tuesday after going 4-for-13 with an RBI and two runs scored over his last three games. Luis Torrens will catch for right-hander Luis Severino and bat seventh.
