As the New York Mets are on this stretch where they’ve won 11 of their last 14 games, they are now getting hit with injuries. It started in Spring Training when they lost their ace, Kodai Senga, to a shoulder injury. He is not expected back until June or July. The Mets are also dealing with a hamstring injury to third baseman Brett Baty. Baty is not expected to go on the injured list, but he has now missed the last three games (Baty is not in the lineup for Saturday’s game). Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York saw its promising catcher Francisco Alvarez leave the game with a thumb injury, which has now landed him on the injured list.
Mets Place Star Catcher On The IL
Álvarez stumbled while running the bases during Friday’s game, and his left thumb landed awkwardly in the process. He stayed in the game to run the bases and scored on an RBI single from Harrison Bader before the Mets took him out of the game in the bottom half of the inning. After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that his catcher was in pain and that he was concerned. On Saturday, after an MRI, it was revealed that Álvarez suffered a sprain on his left thumb.
Francisco Alvarez has a left thumb sprain and is going on the IL. Tomás Nido up, Kolton Ingram DFA’d.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 20, 2024
We will hear more from the Mets in a bit, but a sprained thumb is obviously a better scenario than a break or a ligament tear — both of which seemed in play last night given the amount of pain that Alvarez was in.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 20, 2024
What This Means For The Mets
The Mets seemed to have caught a break, and it wasn’t fractured. So Álvarez won’t be out for an even further period of time and will be back this season. However, Álvarez has been a productive catcher at the plate for the Mets. It’s something they haven’t had since Mike Piazza. He also provided great pitch framing behind the plate. With him out, New York turns to veteran Omar Narváez, calling up Tomás Nido from Triple-A as his backup. So far this season, Narváez is slashing .217/.280/.261 with 3 RBI and 5 hits. Nido is a free swinger and a career .213 hitter with 13 home runs.
We have placed C Francisco Alvarez on the 15-Day IL with a left thumb sprain and selected C Tomás Nido from Triple-A Syracuse.
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 20, 2024
Additionally, we’ve designated LHP Kolton Ingram for assignment.
With Baty and Álvarez out of the lineup, the Mets depth is being tested as they continue their west coast road trip. Also of note is that New York is still without J.D. Martinez as they await his arrival.
Main Photo Credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
