WASHINGTON — It took 25 video games, however the Mets lastly have their full lineup wholesome and energetic. Second baseman Jeff McNeil and catcher Francisco Alvarez will return to motion Friday night time when the Mets begin a street sequence towards the Washington Nationals.
Spring coaching accidents delayed the beginning of the season for each, with McNeil happening with an indirect pressure, and Alvarez needing surgical procedure to restore a damaged hamate bone. The 2 had almost similar rehab timelines and with the Mets off Thursday, they have been each capable of be activated off the injured checklist and slotted into the lineup Friday.
“Getting Jeff and Alvy back helps,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned Friday at Nationals Park. “Coming into this year, they were going to be a big part of this team in the lineup. They went down and they went through the rehab process, and now here they are healthy and ready to go. I’m looking forward to watching those guys play.”
With the Mets coming into the four-game NL East sequence as homeowners of the perfect document in baseball, they don’t precisely want a lot assist.
Catcher Luis Torrens is having fun with among the best begins to his profession on the plate, main the Mets with a .400 common with runners in scoring place. His six doubles almost matches his whole from the whole thing of the 2024 season (eight). Mendoza mentioned each catchers will play, with Torrens getting loads of video games.
Alvarez overhauled his swing over the winter, hoping to search out consistency in his hitting. He has a behavior of rotating his hips early which led to drastic slumps throughout his first two seasons within the main leagues. Whereas rookies are anticipated to hunch, Alvarez carried the boom-to-bust sample into his sophomore season in 2024. One month he’ll be the most well liked hitter on the planet, the subsequent month he’ll pop every part up.
Having gone down so early in spring coaching, it’s robust to know simply what he’s able to with the brand new swing. Alvarez wasn’t capable of get in lots of at-bats and those he did get throughout Grapefruit League play have been hindered by his injured hand. Lastly, the power-hitting catcher can take a look at the enhancements he’s made towards huge league pitching.
“When I was doing my rehab I was working a lot on my swing to try to feel right,” Alvarez mentioned Friday by a workforce translator. “When I wasn’t swinging, I was working a lot on my mentality, on what it is that I wanted to do. Right now, I feel really, really good.”
McNeil was within the lineup because the second baseman on Friday, however with Jose Siri injured, the Mets count on him to play some video games in heart area. The workforce hasn’t mapped out a plan for what number of video games or when, however traditionally, this isn’t how they’ve operated with McNeil to start with. His positional flexibility permits them to plug him in and play him all around the area and wherever within the lineup any time it’s wanted.
“They told me to be ready for anything,” McNeil mentioned. “I’ll continue to get reps out there and feel more and more comfortable out there and see what happens.”
McNeil has performed each nook outfield roles semi-regularly for the Mets, and performed heart area in faculty as nicely. Tyrone Taylor and Siri have been platooning at heart to begin the season, however Taylor has seen the majority of the video games there since Siri fractured his left tibia in Sacramento earlier within the month. Jose Azocar has frolicked there as nicely.
“I pushed for it probably in 2013 when I got drafted,” McNeil mentioned. “I actually really wanted to be in center field, to be that utility guy. It didn’t really happen until a few weeks before I got called up to the big leagues. That’s when they kind of started moving around. But I played center field college, so I enjoy being out there. It’s a lot of fun. I love playing multiple positions and I feel like I can do it pretty well.”
Brett Baty was optioned to Syracuse to make room for McNeil.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nearer Edwin Diaz was not used to guard a one-run lead Friday night time in a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Nats. Mendoza mentioned it wasn’t due to his hip, which cramped up Wednesday towards the Philadelphia Phillies and compelled him to depart the sport within the tenth inning. After making 4 appearances within the final week and dealing with 5 batters two days in the past, the Mets needed to present him a two-day break. He’s anticipated to be obtainable Saturday.
Initially Revealed: April 25, 2025 at 6:32 PM EDT
