Marte, Álvarez on Mets’ roster for wild card series vs Pads

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star right fielder Starling Marte was included on the New York Mets’ roster Friday for their wild-card series against the San Diego Padres and could make his first appearance since Sept. 6.

Marte has been sidelined since breaking the middle finger on his right (throwing) hand when hit by a 96 mph fastball from Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller.

New York also included 20-year-old Francisco Álvarez, who debuted Sept. 30 and went 2 for 12 with a homer, a double and two walks in five games.

Marte, the team’s regular No. 2 hitter, batted .292 with 16 homers, 63 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and an .814 OPS in 118 games this season — his first with New York. He’s been taking swings and fly balls in an effort to return, but the Mets have said recently he still felt discomfort and wasn’t making much progress yet.

Álvarez, rated baseball’s top prospect by MLB.com before his call-up from the minors, provides a right-handed bat off the bench and could start at designated hitter in Game 2 against lefty Blake Snell.

Left-hander Sean Manaea was included on San Diego’s roster and right-hander Mike Clevinger was left off. Manaea threw 66 pitches Tuesday in a win at San Francisco; Clevinger last pitched Saturday and manager Bob Melvin said Thursday he was headed to New York following a negative COVID-19 test.

The Mets made a handful of somewhat surprising decisions. With five left-handers on San Diego’s 12-man pitching staff, including four relievers, New York dropped left-handed-hitting outfielder Tyler Naquin from the roster.

Slumping DH Darin Ruf, a right-handed batter who had been on the injured list with a neck strain, was included.

Starting pitchers Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco were left off for the best-of-three series, with right-hander Tylor Megill getting a spot in the bullpen. Walker and Carrasco both started Tuesday in a doubleheader against Washington.

Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom and Chris Bassitt are New York’s starters for the series. Scherzer is scheduled to pitch the opener, and the result of Game 1 could determine whether it’s deGrom or Bassitt in Game 2.

New York Mets’ Francisco Alvarez hits a double during the eighth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. The Mets won 8-0.

Megill began the season in the rotation and pitched well early. After a long stay on the injured list with a strained right shoulder, he transitioned to the bullpen and made his first major league relief appearance on Sept. 19.

But the right-hander hasn’t quite flourished in his new role, allowing four runs over six innings in six relief outings. He went on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday to open a roster spot for right-hander Mychal Givens, who also made the playoff roster.

Trevor Williams, who did a fine job all season as a long reliever and spot starter, was left off. The right-hander pitched six innings in the regular-season finale Wednesday to keep most of New York’s short relievers fully rested.

Both teams are carrying 12 pitchers and 14 position players.

Game 1 is Friday night at Citi Field.

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