With a little more than a month left in the regular season, the Mets will have to navigate their depth chart when it comes to catcher. Francisco Alvarez hit the injured list with what could be a season-ending injury, depending on how his rehab goes. Additionally, a former Met will not make his next scheduled start.
Alvarez to IL
The Mets placed catcher Francisco Alvarez on the injured list with a right thumb UCL sprain. The move is retroactive to August 18. Alvarez sustained the injury sliding into second base during the Little League Classic.
As for a potential timetable, manager Carlos Mendoza hopes he can return this season. Alvarez will not partake in any baseball activities for the next 10-14 days before a potential ramp-up.
Because of the injury, Alvarez will need surgery at some point. However, the Mets will look to see if he can play through it through the end of the year, as doctors stated there’s little harm in trying to play.
deGrom’s next start skipped
The Rangers will not throw Jacob deGrom out for his next scheduled start, which would have been on August 20.
deGrom is dealing with shoulder fatigue, per the team. He’s thrown over 140 innings this year, the most in a season for the right-hander since 2019.
Vlad Jr. out versus Pirates
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not start on August 19 after leaving the team’s game a day earlier.
Guerrero Jr. is dealing with hamstring inflammation and is day-to-day, per the team.
Rehab assignments
Astros outfielder/DH Yordan Alvarez returned to game action with Corpus Christi (AA). He went 0-2 with a walk in his first three plate appearances.
Also in that game, Luis Garcia struck out six over 4.1 IP (84 pitches) for the Astros’ Double-A affiliate.
Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates were assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin their assignments.
Other injury news
The Yankees placed reliever Brent Headrick on the 15-day IL with a left forearm contusion.
Miami reliever Anthony Bender was placed on the 15-day IL with a right tibial stress reaction, which is medical talk for “shin splints.”
Bryce Miller (Mariners), Jameson Taillon (Cubs), and Amed Rosario (Yankees) were activated off the injured list.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at what Shane Bieber did during his rehab assignment.