The Mets spent the week reminding everyone that October baseball isn’t reserved for the Phillies. At Citi Field, New York unleashed a sweep that not only silenced their division rival but also reignited belief in Queens. Fans watched rookie Nolan McLean carve through Philadelphia’s lineup with eight scoreless innings in the finale, while the offense delivered clutch hits that turned close contests into statement wins. Suddenly, a six-game gap in the NL East shrank to four, and the Mets looked like a team intent on rewriting their season’s narrative.

And in the middle of that renewed belief sat a name fans couldn’t stop talking about, Francisco Álvarez.

At just 23, he isn’t merely another bat in the order; he’s the kind of presence that steadies a clubhouse. In 2023, he smashed 25 home runs in his season, proving he could thrive under the scrutiny of the city. A year later, he showed a well-rounded game, batting .273 and posting an .804 OPS while also demonstrating his value behind the plate by helping pitchers with his solid framing and sharp instincts.

This season, his expected return carried weight far beyond numbers; it promised the kind of jolt that could push an inconsistent lineup over the edge. For fans dreaming of a wild-card push, the thought of Álvarez’s bat returning in September was no small comfort.

Then came the gut punch. On Wednesday night in Syracuse, Álvarez fractured his left pinkie after being hit by a pitch during a rehab stint. It marked the third major injury of his 2025 season, one that already included a broken hamate bone in his left hand and a sprained UCL in his right thumb.

Álvarez admitted to MLB.com that he hopes to return before the season’s end, but doctors haven’t given a clear timeline. For a team clawing back into contention, the uncertainty surrounding their young catcher feels like the cruelest twist of all.

What makes this sting worse is the timing. The Mets had finally seized control against the Phillies, cutting into Philadelphia’s NL East cushion with pitching that looked sharper and bats that refused to fold in late innings. Fans were daring to believe again. And in a season where catcher depth is thin and Álvarez’s presence behind the plate changes the complexion of the lineup, losing him again feels like a cruel twist.

Still, the Mets aren’t folding. Rookie Nolan McLean’s breakout performance against the Phillies, eight scoreless innings that left Philadelphia’s bats flailing, gave the team fresh confidence. The Mets rode that surge all series long, outscoring Philadelphia 15–3 and handing them a sweep so lopsided it stretched the Phillies’ losing streak in Queens to 10 straight games.

For fans, it felt like payback. For the players, it felt like proof that this team could swing momentum back in their direction. Veterans fed off that energy, rallying around interim catching options and vowing not to let Álvarez’s setback undo their hard-earned momentum. Yet the irony lingers: in the same week New York embarrassed their biggest rival and trimmed the division gap, they also lost a key piece they desperately wanted back.

So the story of the Mets’ season remains the same, flashes of hope tempered by the kind of misfortune that tests patience. They proved they could bully the division leader when it mattered, but keeping that edge without Álvarez is the challenge ahead. The fight for October isn’t over, but the path just got steeper.

Mets weigh toughness against long-term health

By now, Mets fans could be forgiven for feeling like every update on Francisco Álvarez’s health comes with a wince. Over the last two years, the young catcher has endured a staggering four different hand injuries, each one cutting into his growth at the plate and behind it.

Last season, he missed nearly two months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. This spring, he fractured the hamate bone in his left hand, delaying his 2025 debut until May. Add in a sprained UCL in his right thumb earlier this month, and now a broken pinkie on his left hand, and it paints the picture of a player who just can’t catch a break, literally or figuratively.

Manager Carlos Mendoza has kept a measured tone through the bad news, careful not to let frustration override reality. “This should be relatively short,” Mendoza said, hinting at optimism, before adding the kind of caveat fans in Queens know too well. “But, again, it’s a little bit of a setback compared to what the original plan was. When you hear ‘fracture,’ you think worst-case scenario, but apparently that’s not the case here. So we just gotta wait and see.”

Still, Mendoza acknowledged the difficulty of pushing forward with yet another injury to a player who’s already been playing through discomfort. “As tough as he is, he’s human,” Mendoza said. “We’re not going to put him in a position where he’s very uncomfortable. It comes down to making sure we’re not putting the player in danger.”

That cautious approach speaks volumes: the Mets may be desperate to lengthen their lineup with Álvarez’s bat, especially after his .323/.408/.645 stretch in 71 plate appearances before the injury. But the priority remains getting him healthy enough to avoid further setbacks. For both Álvarez and the Mets, the next test isn’t just physical healing, it’s patience.