The Mets optioned fellow infielder Brett Baty to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move despite the 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pounder recording a .993 OPS in his last eight games. He also hit a two-run homer in his most recent appearance, which was a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

Alvarez started at catcher in the seventh spot in the order. McNeil hit behind him and started at second base.

The Mets, already atop not only the National League East but MLB as a whole, have made do for the past four weeks without two of their key players. Prior to New York’s 5-4 series-opening walk-off loss to Washington at Nationals Park on Friday,

The New York Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil from the injured list Friday, and both were in the lineup to make their season debut in the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

After Francisco Lindor began the season 0-for-11 and his slow starts of the past continued to haunt him, the Mets shortstop was asked what he needed to do to avoid another one. "That's a fantastic question,