The Mets sit on a knife-edge. Currently, they are second in the division with a 69-61 record and holding the final Wild-Card spot with a thin 1½-game lead.  The team lost six of its last eight series. After losing their recent match against the Atlanta Braves, they began their series against the Phillies with a win. As the Mets look for consistency, one returning bat could change everything

The Mets received some positive news on catcher Francisco Alvarez. Manager Carlos Mendoza shared that Alvarez is recovering much faster than expected. “I couldn’t believe it. When I was looking at it, I was like, ‘There’s no way this guy is swinging the bat,'” Mendoza said. He then confirmed, “He’s scheduled to take BP tomorrow on the field… and if everything goes well today and tomorrow, the plan is for him to be playing in the minor leagues Wednesday or Thursday. So that’s… that’s pretty impressive.”

This updated timeline is a complete game-changer.  Alvarez jammed his right thumb while sliding into a base against the Mariners on August 17th. The team landed him on the 10-day IL with a UCL sprain in his right thumb on 19th August. The previous plan was a 10-to-14-day shutdown from all baseball activities. It was said that Alvarez needed surgery to repair his injury, but now with his return to the cage, just in a weak gives hope that he will play through it for the rest of the season.

But it is a risk, right? And the Amazin’s gonna take it only for one reason: Alvarez’s bat. After a tough start to the year that included another hand injury and a brief demotion, he was slashing .323/.408/.645 four home runs, six doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, and 14 runs in his last 21 games.  The team that has gone 8-17 since July 27 can’t miss this bat for their late-season push.

But getting him back isn’t just about putting his name on the lineup card. It has a complex calculation.

Alvarez, the DH option, and Mendoza’s tough math

The first thought that would be hitting the Mets fans is how challenging it would be for Alvarez to play with a torn thumb ligament, including how much stress his thumb will be able to handle while throwing. In that case, though the original plan for Alvarez was a catcher, if he can’t throw without pain, the team might use him as the designated hitter.

It will surely cut some playing time from Starling Marte and Mark Vientos. But the Mets can’t keep him out with these fragile playoff hopes. As Mendoza said, “If he’s swinging the bat the way he was swinging it before he went down, you’ve got to find a way to get him in there as much as you can.”

Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger have handled catching duties in Alvarez’s absence. While both are solid defenders, the drop-off has been steep. Torrens is batting with .214 with just 17 RBI over 220 at-bats. And Hayden Senger is batting with .172 in his 58 at-bats.

The injury updates don’t stop with Alvarez. Reliever Reed Garrett was just placed on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation, and Left-hander Jose Castillo has been called up to fill his spot.  Meanwhile, outfielder Jose Siri, who has been out since April with a fractured tibia, is finally starting a rehab assignment at Low-A St. Lucie. And starting pitcher Tylor Megill is also nearing a return from his elbow sprain.

Every returning player provides a potential boost for the final stretch, but all eyes remain on Alvarez.