• Cleared for rehab assignment
    Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Alvarez (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: Mendoza offered that Alvarez will catch 5-to-7 innings in his first game with Binghamton and build up from there. Alvarez is five weeks removed from undergoing surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. He was given an eight-week timetable to return following the operation, but the young catcher would appear to have a good shot to beat that timeline. Rotowire.com Today, 10:40 am
     
  • Francisco Alvarez (thumb) starting rehab Thursday
    Francisco Alvarez (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday.

    Advice: That according to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who also told reporters the catcher is expected to be behind the plate for five to seven innings. Alvarez was able to take batting practice over the weekend, and the 22-year-old backstop was reportedly hitting the ball hard as he works his way back from the thumb injury that has kept him out since April. Assuming no setbacks occur in the rehab assignment, Alvarez could be back for the Mets in the middle of June, possibly sooner. Rotoworld Today, 10:36 am
     
  • Looking good in batting practice
    Alvarez (thumb) was reaching exit velocities over 100 miles per hour during batting practice over the weekend, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: The 22-year-old catcher is still wearing a splint on his surgically repaired thumb, however, and the Mets aren't going to rush him back from the 10-day injured list. The team may also use his recovery period to have him work on his positioning behind the plate, as Alvarez has a tendency to be overeager reaching for pitches and is susceptible to getting his glove hand smacked by a swing. Alvarez was batting .236 (13-for-55) with one home run and eight RBI through 16 games when he was injured in mid-April. Rotowire.com Today, 7:43 am
     
  • Ends power drought Monday
    Springer went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's win over the White Sox.

    Advice: The veteran outfielder opened the scoring in the second inning when he lifted a first-pitch fastball from Nick Nastrini over the fence in left field. Springer snapped a 22-game homer drought with the blast, a stretch in which he slashed a woeful .136/.191/.173. He hasn't failed to hit 20 home runs in a full season since 2015, but the 34-year-old has his work cut out for him this summer to reach that mark again -- Springer has only four long balls through Toronto's first 53 games. Rotowire.com Today, 7:06 am
     
  • Tagged with loss Monday
    Valdez (3-3) took the loss against Seattle on Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over six innings.

    Advice: Valdez looked to be in for a rough night after giving up three runs on four hits in the first inning, but he settled in from there and yielded just two hits and no runs the rest of the way. That allowed him to squeak by with a quality start, though he nonetheless ended with his second straight loss. Valdez gave up eight runs over five frames against the Angels in his previous appearance, so this was a decent bounce-back despite the difficult first inning. The left-hander tentatively lines up to face Minnesota at home in his next start. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:39 pm
  • Framber Valdez turns in quality start in loss
    Framber Valdez surrendered three runs in six innings Monday in a no-decision versus the Mariners.

    Advice: All of the runs scored in the first, an inning that could have been much worse if Jake Meyers didn’t cover half of the outfield to chase down a Cal Raleigh fly with the bases loaded. Valdez still gave up four hits that inning, but he allowed just two more the rest of the way. Nevertheless, he still took the loss in a 3-2 game, leaving him 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA for the season. A home start against the Twins is up next. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:31 pm
  • Strong in return
    Lodolo (4-2) allowed a run on five hits over 5.1 innings Monday, striking out three and earning a win over St. Louis.

    Advice: Aside from Paul Goldschmidt's first-inning solo shot, Lodolo kept the Cardinals quiet while cruising to a victory. It was Lodolo's first start since May 11 after a trip to the injured list due to a groin issue. Before that IL stint, he lost two straight starts while coughing up eight total runs through 11 innings. Lodolo now owns a 3.12 ERA with a 46:9 K:BB through seven starts. His next outing is lined up to be on the road against the Cubs. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:32 pm
  • Nick Lodolo earns win in return from IL
    Nick Lodolo limited the Cardinals to one run in 5 1/3 innings in the Reds’ 3-1 victory Monday.

    Advice: Lodolo walked none and struck out three in an 81-pitch outing in his return from the injured list. It’s hard to say whether his body is going to hold up, but he’s a fine mixed-league SP while healthy. Rotoworld Yesterday, 6:00 pm
  • George Springer homers in victory over White Sox
    George Springer went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer on Monday, leading the Blue Jays to a 5-1 victory over the White Sox.

    Advice: Springer set the tone early for Toronto with a second-inning blast off White Sox rookie Nick Nastrini. It was just his fourth round-tripper of the season and first time he’s gone deep since April 24. It’s been a down season offensively for the 34-year-old veteran as he holds a lackluster .570 OPS through 47 contests. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:56 pm