Mets’ Francisco Alvarez feared back spasms were going to end his season

The Mets should consider themselves very lucky.

After leaving Friday’s game with back spasms and needing help to walk off the field, Francisco Alvarez was back behind the plate in Sunday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers in his first start since the injury scare.

Not only did Alvarez get the start, but the catcher was right in the middle of things in New York’s 5-0 win, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. And even though Alvarez pinch-hit in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game and played an inning of defense, after Friday’s incident he feared he was going to be out for the rest of the season.

“In the moment when that happened I didn’t think I could play more this year so I feel way better,” Alvarez said, adding that he was scared at first.

Who could blame him? Because in the moment, it sure didn’t look good either as the 22-year-old couldn’t get up for a while after sliding into third base which looked relatively harmless.

But after Sunday’s win, Alvarez, who left the game in the eighth inning after feeling some tightness in his right hamstring, told reporters he’s feeling really good and is ready for tomorrow when the Mets take on the Atlanta Braves in a pivotal doubleheader

“We feel very together, we feel very good and we’re going to compete over there and that’s it.

Meanwhile, in other ailing Francisco news, Francisco Lindor played his third game since injuring his back and second in the field. And despite saying he felt the same way on Sunday as he did in his first game back on Friday, Lindor looked and moved better.

Like Alvarez, Lindor also had a great game going 2-for-4 atop the lineup with a home run, a walk, two RBI, two runs scored and two steals. He scored his first run in the first inning on Brandon Nimmo’s single and slid into home ahead of the tag and said he felt some pain but that it went away very quickly.

“As I hit the ground for the second time in that inning it was kind of those where [the pain] grabbed, but it let go,” Lindor said. “Like I said, I was gonna play with pain, it’s part of the season where I’m at right now. [The pain] let go and I’m in a good spot. The trainers are doing an outstanding job of keeping me in a good spot.”

With the Mets needing just a split of the doubleheader on Monday, it’ll be interesting to see how manager Carlos Mendoza deploys his entire lineup, but particularly Lindor who said he would love to play all 18 innings.

“We’ll see where I’m at. We’re gonna take it like we have been, day-by-day and as soon as we play the first game then we’ll address what we’re gonna do for the second game,” Lindor said.

Of course, if New York wins Game 1 to clinch a postseason berth, it’ll be very unlikely that the shortstop is in the field for Game 2.

But if the Mets lose Game 1 and their season hangs in the balance in Game 2, it’s hard not to put out your best options in the field, which obviously includes Lindor who has had an MVP-caliber season.

“It should be fun. It’s gonna be an uphill fight just like it’s been the whole year. We just gotta go out there and play the game the right way and hopefully we come out on top,” Lindor said about the doubleheader.