NEW YORK — The New York Mets split their two-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies in London with a come-from-behind win Sunday punctuated by a terrific game-saving defensive play courtesy of a journeyman competing for their backup catcher job.
Plays like that have too often eluded the Mets this season, but they’re increasingly necessary for a team that needs to turn things around fast.
Advertisement
Ahead of an important homestand in regards to their wild-card chances and trade-deadline implications, here are three Mets takeaways that include reporting on Edwin Díaz and Francisco Alvarez after observing both in Brooklyn, plus thoughts on that backup catcher, Luis Torrens, and more.
1. Mets need Díaz to be their stopper
As the Mets endured another close game Sunday by using a patchwork bullpen for a win in London, Díaz watched the action unfold thousands of miles away inside the trainer’s room at Maimonides Park.
Edwin Diaz with a K on a 97 MPH heater to put a bow on his second rehab appearance with the Cyclones.#MiLB I pic.twitter.com/TOvt6G4VKf
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) June 9, 2024
The Mets’ victory included some late-game suspense, one of New York’s hallmarks in 2024. While the Mets have won six of their past nine games, four of those wins featured the opposing team putting the tying run on base in the final inning. Sunday was no different.
The Mets need someone to step up as their late-inning reliever. The easiest fix is Díaz returning to form. It sounds like Díaz could be back as early as Thursday, when he’s eligible to come off the 15-day injured list. But how good will he be?
After completing his second appearance with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, Díaz deemed himself ready to contribute and rejoin the Mets.
“I think they will activate me,” Díaz said. “I did everything they asked me and I am ready to go. … I’m feeling great. I felt really good today.”
Díaz threw 14 pitches (eight strikes) in one scoreless inning. He allowed a walk to start his outing but then induced a double play on a hard-hit grounder to the right side. He ended the frame with a swinging strikeout on a fastball high and away. His slider averaged 88.9 mph while his fastball sat at 96 mph.
Advertisement
Díaz said he wasn’t concerned with any dip in velocity because he was more focused on accomplishing other things.
Before landing on the IL with a right shoulder impingement, Díaz experienced one of the worst stretches of his career. He had blown three of four save opportunities and over 10 appearances starting April 29, his ERA went from 0.93 to 5.40.
Díaz was temporarily removed from the closer’s role and reinstated before blowing another save and reporting discomfort in his shoulder.
Díaz said he is ready for whatever role is best. The Mets need him to be a stopper in the back end. The Mets have tried others such as Adam Ottavino and Reed Garrett, and it hasn’t quite worked. Without Díaz healthy and effective, others have had to backfill his presence in a way they aren’t suited for. It’s hard to see the Mets consistently winning without getting Díaz right.
Díaz says he’s ready to reclaim his spot.
“That’s my job,” he said. “That’s why I got paid, to throw in high-leverage situations. And I feel ready. I feel 100 percent ready. And I am mentally prepared to come into those situations and do my job. I can’t wait to come back and help the team win.”
Alvarez’s workload remains a question
When it comes to how many consecutive games he can catch after coming back from thumb surgery, Francisco Alvarez deferred to manager Carlos Mendoza and the training staff. Alvarez said he felt good Sunday after catching nine innings in a rehab game with Brooklyn. But he must continue to wear a splint on his catching hand to protect his thumb. Thus, while Alvarez’s return appears imminent, his workload may be worth monitoring.
Alvarez, who tore the UCL in his left thumb in a game on April 10, began a rehab assignment on May 30 with Double-A Binghamton and played nine innings for the first time on June 4, catching a combined no-hitter for Brooklyn. He then flew home to Venezuela to attend to a personal matter. But he returned to New York on Saturday and played for Brooklyn on Sunday when he went 0-for-5 with a couple of hard-hit outs.
Advertisement
The Mets haven’t fully committed to activating him on Tuesday, but Alvarez said he would be in favor of it.
“I’m ready,” Alvarez said. “I’m ready to go play.”
With Alvarez sidelined, a battle ensued for the backup catcher spot between newly acquired Torrens and mainstay Tomás Nido. At this point, it’d be hard to deny Torrens the job. After hitting two home runs in a win over the Washington Nationals last week, he made the game-saving double-play in the Mets’ victory over the Phillies on Sunday.
When the Mets acquired Torrens for $100,000 from the New York Yankees, I was told not to expect the club to carry three catchers when Alvarez returns, meaning there’d be a decision to make between Torrens and Nido. Things can always change. But Torrens has proven himself capable both offensively and defensively. And the backup job may continue to matter a great deal if the Mets choose to bring Alvarez along gradually. With J.D. Martinez solidified as the Mets’ full-time designated hitter, New York is not positioned to give many at-bats to anyone else at that spot.
Regardless of who continues to be the backup, being able to reinsert Alvarez into the lineup should be a huge boon for the Mets. New York’s offense has performed better lately for a few reasons — Mark Vientos is providing offense at third base, players say Martinez’s role in hitting meetings has paid off in terms of more accountability for approaches and Francisco Lindor has rebounded from a poor start. Adding Alvarez’s bat — and his energy, for that matter — would make the Mets’ lineup longer than it has been all season; Alvarez and Martinez, who joined the team late, have yet to play in a game together.
Williams’ injury a huge blow
Injuries to a few key young players have disrupted an important evaluation year for the Mets. It’s the first season with president of baseball operations David Stearns at the helm. It’s also the first year for new head of player development Andy Green. But there will be no long looks at Ronny Mauricio, Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert, three names that belong somewhere within the club’s list of top-five prospects. Gilbert may return toward the end of June, but Mauricio is out for the year and Williams won’t return for several more weeks.
The Mets expect Williams, who hasn’t played since appearing in a game for Double-A Binghamton April 21, to miss another 8-10 weeks after having surgery on his right wrist last Thursday, the club announced.
Advertisement
The Mets may look to regain some time for Williams by having him play in the Arizona Fall League, but any conversation regarding that decision remains premature.
The state of the Mets’ second base job at the major-league level says something about their situation in the minors, too. With Jeff McNeil struggling — he had two hits Sunday in his first start in about a week — the Mets turned to veteran Jose Iglesias, who has performed well. Perhaps a veteran like Iglesias would’ve always presented the best fit. But the Mets didn’t have much of an alternative. At the end of last season, it seemed as if they would’ve had plenty of options, with Mauricio being a prime candidate and Williams viewed as someone who could make things interesting much later on.
But now the Mets have just Luisangel Acuna (.650 OPS with Triple-A Syracuse) as a prospect option and may experiment with Brett Baty taking reps at second base.
(Photo of Edwin Díaz from April 14: Adam Hunger / Getty Images)