NEW YORK (AP) – Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez was on his father’s list Tuesday as New York geared up for a three-game series against the Washington Nationals, culminating in a 5-4 comeback win in 10 innings.
Luis Torrens took the field in place of Alvarez, who boasts a .255 batting average with two home runs across 29 games, alongside 10 RBIs and a .676 OPS. He had been revitalized after suffering a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, which placed him on the injured list starting April 25th.
The 23-year-old Alvarez left one of his standout performances on Sunday at Coors Field, where he went 5-for-3 with two RBIs and a 450-foot home run in a dominant 13-5 victory over the struggling Colorado Rockies.
To fill Alvarez’s spot on the roster, third-string catcher Haydensenger was called up from Triple-A Syracuse. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned that Alvarez was still in the hospital awaiting the birth of his child on Tuesday afternoon, leaving the team uncertain about his return to the lineup.
Additionally, New York added Justin Garza to the bullpen after promoting him from Syracuse on Monday. The right-hander made his Mets debut by pitching eight innings, entering with two runners on base and hitting both batters to keep his new team within two runs.
This marked Garza’s first major league appearance since July 2023 when Boston faced the Mets. He was acquired by the San Francisco Giants the previous Saturday.
At 5-foot-10, Garza recorded a 1-2 record with a 6.11 ERA and six saves this season in 19 relief outings for Triple-A Sacramento. He struck out 20 batters and issued six walks in 17.2 innings.
“He has good stuff and throws strikes,” Mendoza noted before the matchup. “(His) fastball is in the mid-90s. He’s got a cutter and competes well, so I’m eager to see him pitch.”
Left-hander Brandon Waddell was optioned to Syracuse following Sunday’s game.
In other updates, Sean Manaea tossed two-thirds of a scoreless inning, allowing two hits during his second rehab outing with High-A Brooklyn. The lefty struck out four, walked one, and threw 31 of his 46 pitches for strikes against Asheville.
Manaea has been on the injured list this season due to a right shoulder strain.
Moreover, New York signed outfielder Travis Jankowski to a minor league deal, assigning him to Triple-A. A strong defender, Jankowski compiled a .575 OPS in 21 games this season with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. He previously played 43 games for the Mets in 2022.
Currently, New York holds the best record in the National League at 43-24.
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Source: apnews.com