Mets' Francisco Alvarez decision doesn't add up with NL East title race

Two things can be true at the same time.

Francisco Alvarez hasn't lived up to his potential this season. And the New York Mets made an odd decision to send him to Triple-A.

The Mets demoted Alvarez on Sunday before losing to the Phillies in the nationally televised night game.

Alvarez is a former top-10 prospect in baseball. This season, he's batting .236, not out of line with his career average.

MORE: Elly De La Cruz puked while playing shortstop, then homered

Part of the struggle for Alvarez likely stems from the left hand fracture he had surgery on that forced him to miss the start of the season.

But overall, it's odd timing for the Mets.

They're in the thick of the NL East race with the Phillies, for one.

Alvarez actually had two hits in his last game before demotion, including his first pull-side home run of the season.

And it's not like the Mets' other catching options are better. Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger aren't winning any awards for their bats, that's for sure.

Maybe there's something that no one knows about. Or maybe the Mets truly think Alvarez just needs to reset for a few days.

But this is still the highest-upside and most-talented catcher in the Mets' organization, by far. He should be catching MLB games, not hanging out in Triple-A Syracuse.

If the Mets don't revert soon, their chances of a division title could suffer.

MORE MLB NEWS:

• Oneil Cruz makes one of laziest plays in MLB history
• Fernando Cruz leads MLB in incredibly important stat
• Aaron Judge just broke another Mickey Mantle record
• Cardinals' Steven Matz joins Bob Gibson with historic 4-strikeout inning
• Astros' champion plans to retire very soon
• Jacob deGrom looks like he's on the Mets again