Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Starting rehab assignment Wednesday
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Alvarez (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Alvarez took batting practice on the field Tuesday and insisted afterward that he feels no pain in his right thumb despite being diagnosed with a UCL sprain. He will be eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list Thursday, but the Mets could wait until rosters expand Sept. 1 to return their starting catcher to the active roster.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Approaching rehab assignment
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Alvarez (thumb) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday or Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
At the time Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 19 due to a UCL sprain in his right thumb, he appeared to be at risk of missing the rest of the regular season, but the 23-year-old has seemingly been able to manage the discomfort in his hand better than anticipated just over a week after sustaining the injury. He's been able to take batting practice over the last few days and doesn't appear to have suffered any setbacks in his hitting progression, putting him on track to report to an affiliate around the middle of the week. Alvarez could remain on assignment through the weekend but may be ready for activation when the Mets' active roster expands to 28 men Sept. 1. He's still expected to require surgery at some point during the offseason to address the thumb injury, but with a projected recovery timeline of eight weeks, Alvarez should be back to full health ahead of spring training.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Out at least 10 days
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The Mets placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right thumb Tuesday, and he'll be re-evaluated in 10-to-14 days.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury during Sunday's win over the Mariners, when he jammed his thumb on a head-first slide into second base. Alvarez appears to be a good bet to return before the end of the season, but when exactly he's ready to go will depend how well he recovers over the next couple of weeks.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Requires MRI on thumb
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after Sunday's 7-3 win over the Mariners that Alvarez would return to New York on Monday to undergo an MRI on his jammed right thumb, the Associated Press reports. "Right now, we don't know what we're dealing with," Mendoza said of Alvarez's injury.
Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI before exiting in the eighth inning, after he had initially stayed in the game upon jamming the thumb on a head-first slide into second base on his seventh-inning double. The Mets are off Monday, so the team will likely wait for the results on Alvarez's MRI to become available before determining if he'll meet back up with the team in Washington on Tuesday for the start of a three-game set with the Nationals. Luis Torrens would be in line to take over as the Mets' No. 1 catcher if Alvarez requires a stint on the injured list.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Exits early Sunday
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Alvarez was removed from Sunday's contest against the Mariners in the eighth inning due to a right hand injury, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
Alvarez appeared to jam his hand on a head-first slide into second base in the bottom of the seventh inning, which ultimately required him to leave the game in the following frame. The catcher finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. More information on his status will likely be provided following the contest.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Idle Thursday
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Alvarez isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Alvarez will grab a seat for Thursday's series finale after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Wednesday's contest. Luis Torrens will catch instead for starter Kodai Senga and bat ninth.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Resting for series finale
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
After catching eight innings and going 1-for-3 with a walk Saturday, Alvarez will get a breather for the Sunday afternoon contest. Luis Torrens will work behind the plate.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Returning Saturday
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Alvarez (head) will start at catcher and bat eighth Saturday against the Giants.
Alvarez was struck in the helmet by a foul tip Wednesday and was held out of Friday's series opener, but he never suffered any concussion symptoms and has been given the green light to return to the starting lineup. Alvarez has gone 6-for-21 (.286) with one triple, one home run and two RBI in the seven games since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on July 21.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Not in Friday's lineup
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.
Alvarez has passed the concussion protocol since being struck in the helmet by a foul tip Wednesday, but he'll still be held out of the lineup for Friday's series opener versus San Francisco. Luis Torrens is starting behind the plate and batting eighth for New York.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Rejoins big club
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The Mets recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.
Alvarez will rejoin the Mets ahead of their three-game series against the Angels following a month-long stay in the minors. The Mets demoted the 23-year-old backstop on June 22 after he posted a weak .652 OPS while struggling defensively upon returning in late April from a season-opening stint on the injured list, but Alvarez settled back into a groove at the plate during his time in the International League. Over 19 games with the Triple-A club, Alvarez slashed .299/.397/.836 with 11 home runs. Though he brings more offensive upside to the table than Luis Torrens, Alvarez may not immediately usurp him as the Mets' top backstop. Manager Carlos Mendoza could instead opt for a timeshare behind the plate to keep both catchers relatively involved.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Exiting starting nine
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Alvarez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Atlanta.
Luis Torrens will do the catching and bat sixth as the Mets try to even the series. Alvarez went hitless in Tuesday's game and is 1-for-14 over his last four tilts.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Returns from paternity list
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The Mets activated Alvarez (personal) from the paternity list Thursday.
Alvarez was away from the club for two days while welcoming a new baby. He's back in the lineup for the series finale against the Nationals on Thursday, starting at catcher and batting ninth.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Ends homer drought
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Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Rockies.
The 23-year-old backstop took advantage of a road trip to Coors Field, slugging a solo shot in the ninth inning off Zach Agnos. The long ball was the second of the season for Alvarez, snapping a 26-game homer drought during which he'd slashed a tepid .236/.327/.270 with just six RBI. He's been showing signs of life at the plate however, batting .303 (10-for-33) over his last nine contests.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Idle Wednesday
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Alvarez isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Alvarez will grab a seat on the bench Wednesday after going 2-for-7 with an RBI across the first two games of the series. Luis Torrens will take over behind the plate and bat ninth.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Not in Wednesday's lineup
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the first two games of the series and will take a seat for Wednesday's finale. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Griffin Canning.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Sitting again Sunday
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Alvarez will remain on the bench for the second game in a row and the third time in four contests while he's struggled to get going at the plate since being activated from the injured list April 25. Through his first 20 games of the season, Alvarez is hitting .232 with a 29.5 percent strikeout rate and has just three extra-base hits (one home run, two doubles) over 78 plate appearances. Until his bat begins to heat up, Alvarez looks like he could be part of a timeshare behind the plate with Luis Torrens.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Getting afternoon off
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Alvarez will receive a breather while the Mets close out their series versus the Cubs with a day game after a night game. Luis Torrens will replace Alvarez behind the dish, forming a battery with starting pitcher Griffin Canning.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Drives in three in Friday's win
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Alvarez went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Friday's 9-3 win over the Cardinals.
While none of the knocks went for extra bases, it was still a strong performance from Alvarez. The 23-year-old backstop is batting .269 (7-for-26) with a double, a homer and six RBI over six games since returning from surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Resting Thursday
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Alvarez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Luis Torrens will get a turn behind the dish while Alvarez rests for the day game after playing all nine innings at catcher in Wednesday night's 4-3 loss. Since returning from the injured list last Friday, Alvarez has gone 4-for-21 with a home run, a double, two walks and three RBI in his first five games of the season.
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Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Activated ahead of season debut
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The Mets activated Alvarez (hand) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Alvarez is starting at catcher and batting seventh Friday versus the Nationals in what will be his season debut after he missed the first four weeks of the season following surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. The catcher went 7-for-39 with one home run across 10 rehab contests.
