The New York Mets cannot afford to slow down, and they are entering a series that could be pivotal for their MLB postseason chances. They might be boosted by a highly anticipated return that could yield significant offensive rewards.
Good news for Carlos Mendoza, as his team will face the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game series, followed by a challenging four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Francisco Álvarez could return to the Mets
This was reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post, who stated on Thursday that the Mets plan to activate Francisco Álvarez from the injured list.
It’s worth noting that Álvarez last played on August 17 against the Seattle Mariners in Williamsport during the Little League Classic. The 23-year-old suffered a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right thumb while sliding headfirst into second base attempting to stretch a hit into a double.
Álvarez required surgery on his thumb but chose to delay it until the offseason and attempt to play through the pain. After being seen taking batting practice at Citi Field a week after the injury, the slugger began a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Syracuse with the goal of making an unusually quick return to New York’s lineup.
However, Álvarez faced another setback in his rehab when, on August 27, he exited a game with Syracuse after being hit by a pitch on his left pinky. It was later confirmed to be a fracture in that finger. Despite the accumulated discomfort and injuries, the catcher continued his rehab process in Triple-A and will finally return this weekend to bolster the Mets in their playoff push.
The 2025 season has not been easy for Álvarez, marked by injuries. He already missed nearly the first month of the regular season due to a fractured hamate bone during spring training. When he debuted on April 25 against the Washington Nationals, he struggled both at the plate and behind it, leading the Mets to send him to Triple-A on June 22.
There, however, he regained his form: in 19 games with Syracuse, he hit .299 with 11 home runs, a performance that earned him a call-up on July 21. Since then, he carried that momentum into the Majors, posting a .293/.388/.603 slash line in 21 games. Just before his thumb injury, he was on fire, batting .429 (9-for-21) with three home runs and nine RBIs in just seven games.
Now, Álvarez rejoins a Mets lineup that has solidified as one of the most productive in the league since mid-August. In 56 games played in 2025, he’s hitting .265/.349/.438 with seven home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .787 OPS.
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