Joshua Kuroda-Grauer (groin) starts rehab assignment

Varland has a 2.76 ERA with eight saves and a 39/12 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings at Triple-A. He will try to see if he can carry any of that success over into the big leagues to bring down his 6.82 ERA from 31 2/3 innings earlier this season.

Jazz Chisholm is back from the injured list, and Boone told Talkin’ Yanks that he prefers to keep Chisholm at second base and George Lombard at shortstop. That will mean that Volpe needs to play third base in order to remain in the starting lineup, which would push Jose Caballero back to the bench. Volpe is hitting .263 in 11 games in September with one home run, seven RBI scored, and four runs scored. He’s certainly better than Ryan McMahon, but how he handles the position defensively will determine if he’s a better option than Caballero.

Basallo got hit in the catcher’s mark with a foul tip on Monday and left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He’s not in the first game today, and Heston Kjerstad is with the team on the taxi squad. The Orioles are carrying three catchers, so Kjerstad could be the corresponding move if Basallo winds up having to go on the injured list.

Over the weekend, Mead started hitting off a tee, but it seems that he progressed enough to face live pitching on Tuesday. Crochet, who is working back from a shoulder injury, threw to Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) and also Mead. The left-hander touched 96 mph and was sitting in the low 90s, so Mead was able to see and hit velocity. There is no word on how the session went or how Mead felt after it, but the fact that he has progressed to this stage makes it possible that he could return in time for the postseason.

Alvarez doubled to lead-off the third inning and came around to score the first run of the game. Then in the sixth inning, his two-run double put the Mets ahead 4-3. Alvarez has five RBI over his last three games. He’s hitting .234 with a .718 OPS and 42 RBI this season.

Benge hit a ground-rule double and scored on an error in the fourth inning. He later hit an RBI double to put the Mets up 6-3. Benge has three doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in 19 games in September. He’s hitting .277 with a .764 OPS and 62 RBI with five games left in the regular season.

Cortes entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning following the departure of left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi. With a runner on, he cut into the Angels’ lead with a triple before scoring on a base hit. Cortes then put the A’s ahead with a two-run homer off Sam Bachman in the eighth inning. The 29-year-old outfielder has hit .257/.323/.408 with ten homers and 43 RBI across 368 plate appearances.

Guzman put the Angels on the board with an RBI groundout in the first inning. He then extended the Los Angeles lead with a three-run blast off Brady Basso in the third. The 22-year-old third baseman has flashed some power potential, hitting eight homers while slashing .226/.272/.350 across 286 plate appearances.

Harris took the mound in the top of the ninth to close out the game against the Angels with a three-run lead. He issued a leadoff walk and allowed a run in on three hits before striking out the final batter to end the game with his 16th save of the season.

Senga struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning. He picked up his eighth save despite Devin Williams being activated earlier in the day. It appears Senga is still the favorite for saves with the Mets. New York has five more games remaining this week.