Alvarez Heating Up For Playoff-Chasing Mets

Francisco Alvarez continues to improve at the plate with another spectacular performance on Friday night.

The 22-year-old catcher was 2-for-4 in the series opener against the Phillies, including a three-run homer that broke the scoreless tie in the fifth.

It was Alvarez’s second straight game with a three-run homer, and second in three at-bats. The first homer came on Wednesday against the Blue Jays in the series finale, which was also instrumental in its own right.

So far this season, Alvarez is only slashing .237/.305/.383 with a .688 OPS. He has a total of 12 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs, along with 32 runs scored and 37 RBIs.

Alvarez, however, has started to turn a corner when the Mets need wins the most. Over his last seven games, the catcher is slashing .273/.407/.545 with two home runs and seven RBIs in that span.

Now, when every game remaining is live or die, the catcher has displayed his refined approach. Alvarez is laying off pitches, and hitting them harder than ever.

Alvarez has nine exit velocities over 100 miles per hour since Sept. 3, and 15 instances where he’s put the ball in play at 92.1 miles per hour or higher.

While those haven’t all resulted in hits or homers, it’s an encouraging sign. Alvarez hasn’t hit the ball hard this season, and as a result, only has eight homers on Sept. 14.

The other metrics have been low this season too. Alvarez has a barrel percentage of 6.1% and only a 41.9 hard-hit percentage. Both considerably down from 2023 (12.8 barrel% and 45.1 hard-hit%).

The turnaround has been noticeable by all. Including manager Carlos Mendoza, who started Alvarez on Wednesday against the Blue Jays despite playing in the night game on Tuesday. Alvarez is finding old habits at the plate, and it’s resulting in wins in the box score.

“I just keep working,” Alvarez told Steve Gelbs after the game. “I was working a lot on everything with hitting.”

The work has paid off for the Mets’ catcher, who had previously told Gelbs he was frustrated at the plate during the series with Arizona. Two homers in two games are sure ways to feel great about the grind, and it’s also resulted in better vibes for the 22-year-old.

“Really good energy in the dugout and in the game,” Alvarez stated. “We just keep having

The Venezuelan catcher has the potential to be a difference-maker down the stretch for the Mets. He hit 25 homers in his rookie season and hasn’t hit a power stretch that he displayed in 2023.

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