Mets' Francisco Alvarez, Jeff McNeil return to starting lineup
Jeff McNeil #1 of the New York Mets celebrates his fourth inning two run home run against the Miami Marlins with teammate Francisco Alvarez #4 at Citi Field on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
WASHINGTON — The Mets had already played 25 games, but for Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez it was Opening Day on Friday night at Nationals Park.
“It feels like Opening Day for me because it is,” McNeil said.
The duo made their season debuts after being activated off the injured list, McNeil for an oblique injury and Alvarez for a broken bone in his left hand.
Alvarez started at catcher in the seventh spot in the order. McNeil hit behind him and started at second base.
McNeil was not in centerfield. Not yet. But manager Carlos Mendoza’s plan for McNeil is to see some time in his old college position as a way to get him and Luisangel Acuna into the lineup at the same time. Acuna would play second.
“They told me to be ready for anything,” McNeil said. “I’ll continue to get reps out there and feel more and more comfortable out there and see what happens.”
McNeil played in two games in center during his minor-league rehab assignment. In 2023, he played three games in center (two starts). With Jose Siri on the injured list and Tyrone Taylor struggling (.188 going into Friday), McNeil could find himself in center again in the near future.
“I pushed for it probably in 2013 when I got drafted,” McNeil said. “I actually really wanted to be in centerfield, 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 me around. But I played centerfield in 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.”
Acuna has some minor-league experience in center, but the Mets are really enjoying his defense at second. And it’s not as if McNeil is going to play every day coming off his injury.
“I have to take care of Jeff,” Mendoza said. “He’ll play probably two games, have an off-day . . . So we'll find ways to keep Acuna sharp and getting some at-bats.”
It’s not as if the Mets have suffered without McNeil and Alvarez. They went into Friday with an 18-7 record and were riding a seven-game winning streak.
“It’s been fantastic,” McNeil said. “Team’s playing really well. So it's been fun to watch. Wish I was out there with the guys.”
The same could be said for Alvarez, who watched Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger handle the catching duties while he was out. Mendoza said Torrens has earned more playing time with his excellent play during Alvarez’s absence, so expect to see the two splitting the position.
“When I was doing my rehab I was working a lot on my swing to try to feel right,” Alvarez said through a 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.”
Senger was sent to Triple-A Syracuse, as was Brett Baty, who had picked up his offense of late but was expected to lose playing time with McNeil back. The Mets kept outfielder Jose Azocar on the roster rather than risk losing him on waivers.
Alvarez, after striking out in the second against righthander Jake Irvin, picked up his first hit of 2025 when he singled in the fifth. McNeil hit fly balls to right for outs in his first two at-bats.
Senga streak ends
Kodai Senga saw his scoreless streak end at 20 1/3 innings when Washinbgton took a 1-0 lead in the second. With two outs and no one on, Dylan Crews grounded what should have been a single to left. But Brandon Nimmo, for some reason, threw the ball in the direction of third base. When Crews saw that, he took off for second. It was scored a double. Jose Tena followed with an RBI single.
CJ Abrams made it 2-0 with an RBI triple off the centerfield wall in the third.
Diaz OK
Mendoza said Edwin Diaz, who left Wednesday’s game against the Phillies with a hip cramp, was “fine” on Friday.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
