Alvarez delivers late two-run homer as Mets push toward postseason
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez hits tiebreaking eighth-inning homer to keep playoff hopes alive in Chicago
CHICAGO — Francisco Alvarez's season reached a pivotal moment Tuesday as the 23-year-old catcher delivered a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs and reclaim the lead for the National League's third and final wild card.
It capped a roller-coaster season for Alvarez, who has twice dealt with injuries that sent him to the injured list and whose midseason underperformance led to his demotion to Triple-A Syracuse. He entered Wednesday at Wrigley Field with a .781 OPS for September that included three homers. Earlier this season he sprained a ligament in his right thumb diving into second base on Aug. 17, an injury that required surgery that has been deferred, and he also broke his left pinkie when he was drilled by a pitch during his minor-league rehab assignment.
With the Mets in a tight fight for the NL's third and final playoff spot, Alvarez's late-season surge provides a potentially decisive momentum shift as they pursue a second straight postseason appearance. The club has leaned on its young catcher as it navigates through an injury-plagued season and a midseason demotion that makes his late-September contributions notable for the club's postseason hopes.
At 23, Alvarez's comeback from injuries and a stint in the minors underscores the volatility of a modern catcher’s season, but his current level of production has the Mets counting on him in the closing games of the year as they attempt to secure a spot in the postseason.