Francisco

Alvarez

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.

It’s an encouraging sign to see Alvarez in New York’s lineup following a bizarre incident during Monday’s game when he was inadvertently struck by teammate Ronny Mauricio’s bat while he was warming up in the on-deck circle. Mets interim manager Andy Green told reporters that Alvarez checked out fine afterwards. Disaster averted.

Alvarez got to Javier Assad for his seventh home run of the season. Since coming off the injured list in early June, Alvarez has gone 14-for-43 (.326) with three home runs, seven RBI, and four runs scored in 12 games with a 13/3 K/BB ratio. While the Mets offense aren’t him hasn’t helped with the counting stats, Alvarez deserves to be on rosters in shallow one-catcher leagues.

Alvarez is batting .300/.333/.450 with two homers in 11 games since coming off the injured list two weeks ago. It’s a little funny that the Mets think enough of his bat that they’ve kept him in the lineup at DH the last three times he has not caught (he’s currently started seven games in a row) but they also had him batting ninth behind the struggling Brett Baty and MJ Melendez tonight.

It’s Alvarez’s fifth straight start. He’ll probably do less DHing on his days off from catching if Jorge Polanco ever makes it back, but for now, it’s giving him a little value boost.

Alvarez hit three balls at least 107 mph today, topping out at a season-high 112.3 mph on his second single. He’s 8-for-25 with a homer in seven games since coming off the injured list last week.