Francisco

Alvarez

The 24-year-old backstop started the first two games of the series, so he’ll take a seat to start Sunday’s season finale. There is a chance that he’ll be used off the bench if the right situation arises. Luis Torrens will do the catching for the Mets and will bat seventh against Nationals’ left-hander DJ Herz.

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.

Alvarez led off the third inning with a base hit, then gave the Mets the lead with a three-run blast off Andrew Painter in the fifth inning. The 24-year-old catcher is hitting .229/.310/.398 with 16 homers and 40 RBI across 399 plate appearances.

Alvarez needed a game like this as he’s been mired in a dreadful slump. He’d gone nearly a month without a home run before these two and had just four since the All-Star break with a paltry .187 batting average and strikeout rate that was approaching 40%. He could really use a strong end of the season to build some positive momentum heading into 2027.

It’s a fourth straight hitless game for Alvarez. He still has a decent .233/.325/.408 line for the season, but that he’s been so bad with men on base has him batting ninth right now. He’s driven in a total of 17 baserunners (30 RBI minus 13 homers) in 334 plate appearances this season.

Alvarez’s homer was a solo shot in the fifth that put New York up 10-1, one of 15 hits the team registered in Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old backstop is up to 13 homers but has just 29 RBI and 29 runs scored. He only has three career stolen bases, so his 5x5 fantasy value is tied exclusively to home runs, when he’s healthy enough to play. That said, he has career bests in walk rate and expected wOBA so far this season.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Mets were willing to listen to offers for most of their players, but it would be surprising if they dealt Alvarez. The catcher is just 24 years old and is hitting .260/.332/.449 in 70 games this season with 12 home runs. Injuries have been a major problem for him in his career, but the Mets will likely hold onto him and deal away a veteran like Torrens. Bowden mentioned that the White Sox, who just lost Kyle Teel, have been linked to Torrens.

With the trade deadline approaching and Alvarez’s name sneaking into some rumors, he just keeps on hitting. His home run was his 12th of the season and third in his last five games. Over his last 30 games, he has a .274/.336/.491 slash line and remains one of the better power-hitting catchers in the league as long as he can stay healthy.

Alvarez got the scoring started in the third inning with a 416-foot (100.2-mph EV) solo shot off of Aaron Nola. He then increased that edge to 3-0 with his 363-foot (104.4-mph EV) blast off of Nola to in the seventh inning. He also drew a walk and struck out in the ballgame, finishing the night 2-for-3. For the season, the 24-year-old backstop is now slashing .259/.325/.448 with 11 long balls and 25 RBI.

Alvarez has started every game this week either behind the plate or as the designated hitter, so he’ll get a well-deserved breather in this one. Luis Torrens will start behind the dish and bat eighth for the Mets against Braves’ southpaw Martin Perez.