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Injury update means Mets backups have less time to lock down spots
The New York Mets got some good news this week as injured stars Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil are heading to Florida for rehab assignments.
However, this isn't great news for the Mets' active second basemen Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna, as their time to prove who should remain on the MLB roster is running out. Meanwhile, the catching platoon of Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger has held it down behind the dish.
According to MLB senior reporter Anthony DiComo, Alvarez will play for Single-A St. Lucie on Wednesday. At the same time, McNeil continues to rehab before playing in a minor league game this weekend. McNeil has also been experimenting with the controversial torpedo bats as he looks to return to the form that won him the National League batting title in 2022.
McNeil missed Opening Day due to an oblique strain, while Alvarez underwent surgery to repair a left hamate bone after fracturing it in batting practice. Both were expected to be the regular starters at second base and catcher, respectively, but plans changed during a dynamic spring training in Port St. Lucie.
Batty slashed .353/.441/.745 in spring training and was given another shot to prove himself in the majors. Alongside him was Acuna, the exciting Mets prospect who contributed late to their run to the NLCS last year. He was added to the Opening Day roster after utility infielder Nick Madrigal went down for the season with a fractured left shoulder. The two have a combined -0.5 WAR through the first 11 games.
Acuna does have a leg up on Baty in the race to stay in the majors. The younger brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. is able to play across the infield, compared with Baty being limited to just second and third base. Acuna is also much faster than Baty and can be used as a pinch runner in certain scenarios.
However, Acuna's offensive production is similar to Baty's in that there isn't much happening, with a .158 batting average, compared with Baty's .111 average.
The opposite is happening with Alvarez's backups. Luis Torrens has a batting average of .300, and Hayden Senger is batting .222. Neither performance is All-Star worthy, but they provide more than Acuna or Baty at the plate. Senger —who was working at Whole Foods before spring training— has even impressed Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
Carlos Mendoza credits Hayden Senger for his play this year:
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 9, 2025
"Here he is, getting an opportunity and taking advantage of it" pic.twitter.com/hYVTySQRX6
"We knew the defense was always going to be there ... We've seen how elite he is receiving, the blocking, [and] his ability to shut down a running game," Mendoza said. "Then offensively, he's given us some really good at-bats ... he's playing really well. [I'm] proud of him. He worked really hard to be at this level, and here he is getting an opportunity and taking advantage of it."
Regardless of who Mendoza picks as a backup catcher when Alvarez returns, the Mets could greatly use Alvarez's bat, as the bottom of their order hasn't produced enough. Still, the biggest sigh of relief will be saved for McNeil's return, as Baty turned in another uninspiring performance on Wednesday.
Baty went 0-3 at the plate against the Marlins with one error that led to two unearned runs for the Miami Marlins. The Mets lost 5-0 as their bats across the lineup went cold, ending a six-game winning streak.
Mendoza backed Baty in a postgame news conference, saying the former first-round pick will still have chances to play. However, those chances are dwindling, and there's no sign either player is ready to lock in their spot for the remainder of the year.
"We believe in the player. There's tools, there's a lot to like there"
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 9, 2025
Carlos Mendoza was asked about Brett Baty continuing to get playing time at second base with Jeff McNeil on the IL: pic.twitter.com/OdcV5GIEOs
More must-reads:
- Orioles lose yet another pitcher to injury
- White Sox place notable player on IL with adductor strain
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
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Astros' playoff push dealt significant blow
The Houston Astros' playoff push received a devastating blow on Tuesday. The Astros announced that closer Josh Hader was placed on the injured list with a strained left shoulder. Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reported that Hader will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the strain. Hader has been utterly dominant for the Astros in 2025. He had posted a 2.05 ERA and a 0.854 WHIP over his 52.2 innings, striking out 76 batters with 16 walks. Hader had notched 28 saves in 29 attempts as he continued to make a case as the best closer in the game. As the July 31 trade deadline has passed, the Astros may have no option but to cobble the ninth inning together out of what they already have. Reliever Bennett Sousa recorded the one-out save on Monday and is second on the team with four saves. Fellow relievers Bryan Abreu, Bryan King and Steven Okert have impressed this season. The Astros, on paper at least, have plenty of depth in the bullpen. Despite that depth, the ninth inning is now a question mark. Abreu has notched nine saves in his career, the most of any of the Astros' other late-inning options. A reunion with reliever Ryan Pressly, who was designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Cubs, could be a possibility. Pressly does have closing experience but struggled to a 4.35 ERA and a 1.524 WHIP over his 41.1 innings in Chicago. Meanwhile, the Mariners have been white-hot since the trade deadline, winning nine of their last 10 games, including seven in a row heading into Tuesday. That surge has the Mariners just a game behind the Astros in a suddenly competitive AL West. The Guardians and Rangers are within 6.5 games of Houston, well within striking distance should the Astros falter. If Hader is on the injured list for an extended period, the Astros may be fighting for a playoff berth by the end of the season.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Makes Direct Statement About Mason Rudolph's Spot On QB Depth Chart
The Pittsburgh Steelers have quite an interesting quarterback room for the 2025 season. Of course, all the focus is truly on Aaron Rodgers and what he can bring to the team at this stage in his career. Behind him, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph serving as the primary backup. Skylar Thompson and Will Howard are competing for the third spot on the depth chart, but unfortunately for Howard, an injury has slowed his progress. Thompson took advantage of the opportunity, performing well in the first preseason game and possibly reclaiming the QB3 role. Before his injury, Howard had previously moved ahead of Thompson in the competition. Former teammate of Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger, recently shared his honest thoughts about the veteran quarterback’s performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Roethlisberger, who spent years with Rudolph during his time in Pittsburgh, had a unique perspective on how his former understudy handled the game. While Roethlisberger acknowledged there were some areas where Rudolph could improve, he also praised his composure, decision-making, and ability to move the offense when needed. Roethlisberger discussed Rudolph’s performance on his Footbahlin podcast, noting that the veteran looked confident and in control despite limited opportunities. "You know I thought Mason [Rudolph] played really well," Roethlisberger said on his podcast. "I thought he did exactly what you would hope to see from your backup quarterback. He went out there I think, he solidified himself… as the two." He pointed out that Rudolph’s familiarity with the Steelers’ system allows him to step in without disrupting the flow of the offense. With Rodgers leading the way, Rudolph providing a steady backup presence, and the QB3 competition between Thompson and Howard continuing, the Steelers’ quarterback depth will be a storyline worth following as the 2025 season approaches. "Let’s see how he does this week and the next week," Roethlisberger said. "I thought he played really well. I thought he was efficient with the ball. He threw the ball down the field. As a team, you like seeing that because that gives you confidence going into the season that if something were to happen one game for Aaron… you have a guy that you feel confident who could go in there. Same thing when we had Charlie Batch, you had Bruce Gradkowski, you had Byron Leftwich, you had Dennis Dixon and Josh Dobbs. Any of those guys. You just feel confident he can go in and just get it done for you." Roethlisberger had high praise for Rudolph, and hearing him mention him alongside names like Charlie Batch shows he has faith in Rudolph’s ability to be a reliable backup in Pittsburgh. There is a strong argument that Rudolph is one of the most dependable backup quarterbacks in the NFL, which is a significant asset for the Steelers in the 2025 season. Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Great Preseason Game Versus Jaguars Rudolph only attempted 10 passes on Saturday night against the Jaguars, but completed 90 percent of them. He threw for 84 yards and one touchdown. While preseason football can be difficult to evaluate, he performed well in roughly a quarter and some change of action. His efficiency and composure reinforced the notion that the Steelers have one of the league’s most steady and trustworthy backup quarterbacks heading into the regular season. Roethlisberger is confident Rudolph has now locked up his spot as QB2 for the 2025 season. Steelers fans are now super eager to get updates on when Howard will be back from his injury. Howard and Thompson will fight for the QB3 spot. What grade would you give Rudolph for his preseason outing against the Jaguars?
Former crew chief frustrated by the 'ridiculous' racing at Watkins Glen
It is no secret that NASCAR's current road-course package has not been very good. Aside from the mile-and-a-half tracks that were once the least competitive and exciting in the series, those races are the rare bright spot for the Next Gen Car since its inception in 2022. Shane van Gisbergen drove away to an 11.1-second win over Christopher Bell in Sunday's race at Watkins Glen and set multiple records in the process. While the racing was not particularly exciting, that was not what left former crew chief and current analyst Steve Letarte frustrated the most following the weekend. A recurring issue in each race over the weekend was drivers utilizing the runoff areas around the track and not staying on the traditional racing surface, which ultimately led to some crashes in Saturday's Xfinity race. "So, I hate track limits that have to be officiated," Letarte said on "Inside the Race." "Because I like tracks that you should just stay on the track. I didn't think it mattered. Now, I am team get-them-back-on-the-race-track-at-Watkins-Glen. I don't love the Watkins Glen that I see. ... I think Turn 1 is not as great of a corner with no exit respect or responsibility. You just blow the exit. I think the carousel is a much easier corner, being able to just go driver's left. "I also think Turn 6 is going — let me add, that I think the (Connor) Zilisch, SVG wreck between the last two corners (in the Xfinity Series race) happened because they left the track, and the Austin Hill wreck with Michael McDowell happened off the race track. Now, both could have been avoided, we can talk about who's at fault. What I'm saying is, I've never driven a lap at Watkins Glen. I can analyze what happens between the white lines." This comes one year after rumble strips were placed in Turn 1 to keep drivers from using the runoff area, and that clearly has not worked. As the field has got closer together, using up all the track has become a common way for drivers to establish momentum, especially as they prepare for the right-hander going into The Esses at Watkins Glen. The bottom line is NASCAR's road-racing product needs to get better and Letarte wants to see race cars "stay on the race track because I think it will be a better race." Van Gisbergen's historic dominance certainly does not help, but the overall road course product is not great. Whether NASCAR makes some changes to the runoff areas and enforces track limits remains to be seen, but that still may not be the biggest issue if the racing does not improve.
'He's different': Vikings' J.J. McCarthy gets compared to future Hall of Famer
Before Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones shared a locker room with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Jones and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2017 through the 2022 season. Jones recently claimed that he sees some of Rodgers in McCarthy heading into what could become a franchise-altering campaign for the Vikings. "[McCarthy] is a very, very hungry and driven player, but also a leader," Jones explained, Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame shared. "He’s different. In terms of the smarts, I put him in that category with Aaron Rodgers, in terms of how smart he is and really having an understanding for the game." That's high praise considering Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl MVP who is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. That said, nobody knows what McCarthy will be as a pro after the 2024 first-round draft pick spent his first NFL season recovering from a meniscus repair. McCarthy returned to the playing field when he completed four of seven pass attempts for 30 yards in Minnesota's 20-10 preseason win over the Houston Texans on Saturday. He also tested his surgically-repaired knee when he used his legs to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-4 situation in the game's first quarter. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell could've pushed for the club to re-sign Sam Darnold after he guided Minnesota to a 14-3 record last season. O'Connell and Co. had "conversations" about possibly signing Rodgers before McCarthy received the keys to the Minnesota offense ahead of training camp. Jones seems to believe O'Connell and Co. made the right call. "He’s been amazing," Jones added about McCarthy. "I’m honestly confident in what we have here. I feel like we have everything we need, all the pieces we need here. I feel like J.J. is going to surprise a lot of people." As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Vikings seventh among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. It will be interesting to see how McCarthy handles the pressure when Minnesota opens the regular season with a "Monday Night Football" matchup at the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8.
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