Mets get incredible Francisco Alvarez news ahead of Cardinals series

The New York Mets have had a rough 2026 season, as they've gone 29-36 on the season so far, and are 15.5 games out of first place in the NL East.

But they have begun to win a bit more recently, and there is more optimism around the team right now than there was a few weeks ago. One of the big reasons for that is players picking up steam, and others returning from injury.

Speaking of players coming back from injury, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets are activating Francisco Alvarez from the injured list just four weeks into what was initially reported as a 6-to-8 week recovery timeline.

Mets' Francisco Alvarez to be activated after missing only 4 weeks

"The Mets are activating catcher Francisco Alvarez from the injured list ahead of their game today, league sources said," Sammon reports. "After a torn meniscus in his right knee, the club had offered a 6-8 week timetable. He is back after four weeks."

This is an incredible report for the Mets, as they're getting their star catcher back in the lineup two weeks earlier than previously anticipated.

After landing on the injured list back in mid-May, Alvarez has worked his way back and is returning to the MLB lineup far quicker than anticipated.

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He's a huge presence for the Mets lineup, as he has a .241 batting average and a .710 OPS, both of which are better than their current backup catcher options.

Luis Torrens has a .218 average and a .598 OPS, while Hayden Senger has a .133 average with a .466 OPS. Adding Alvarez in place of either catcher would be a massive upgrade.

Among the Mets hitters, only Juan Soto, Carson Benge, Jared Young, and MJ Melendez have been better than Alvarez this season.

This is some incredible news for the Mets, as their star catcher is back from injury. This is a much-needed jolt for the offense as they get the Cardinals series underway on Tuesday night.

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