Francisco Alvarez was called up to the Mets after Omar Narvaez was sent to the injured list with a strained left calf, but manager Buck Showalter said on Friday that Tomas Nido would get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate in Narvaez’s absence.
Nido started in the home opener at Citi Field on Friday, a 9-3 win over the Marlins.
Asked about Alvarez’s role while Narvaez is out, likely for the next eight-to-nine weeks, Showalter said: “We’ll see how that evolves. We were lucky to have a guy like Tomas that we’re very comfortable with. We’ll see what the needs of the club are. Francisco will get some playing time.”
Showalter said he didn’t expect Alvarez to get many starts at DH, preferring instead to use the spot for more experienced hitters.
“It’s a consideration,’’ Showalter said of Alvarez potentially being in the lineup as a DH. “I’ll look at it each day. Right now I don’t see that happening, but it might.”
He also noted that because Miami is starting left-hander Trevor Rogers on Saturday, Alvarez could be in the lineup.
Alvarez is coming off a spring training during which he struggled at the plate, but made strides defensively.
He was off to a good start for Triple-A Syracuse, with two homers and a double in his first four games.
The 21-year-old, who went 2-for-12 with a double and a homer in five games with the Mets last September, was the only other catcher on the 40-man roster.
Showalter said his lineup decisions regarding Alvarez will be “heavily weighted toward winning games” over developing Alvarez as a hitter.
“We’re hoping both can happen,’’ Showalter said. “Pitching is really good [in the majors]. A lot better than where he came from. We like his chances offensively when he settles into a career.”
Narvaez was signed in the offseason to be part of a lefty-righty platoon along with Nido.
He was injured during the loss Wednesday at Milwaukee and said he was surprised by the severity of the strain.
Pete Alonso hit his fourth homer of the season in the eighth inning Friday.
It was the 150th homer of Alonso’s career.
He is the second fastest to that milestone in MLB history, taking just 538 games to get there. Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard hit his 150th homer in his 495th game.
Alonso is also moving up the franchise home run list.
He’s now sixth all time after moving past Carlos Beltran.
Next up on the list is Dave Kingman, who is fifth with 154 career homers as a Met.
Alonso continues to feast on Marlins pitching.
His 24 homers against Miami leads the majors against any one opponent since 2019.
The Mets improved to 41-21 all time in home openers.
They’ve won eight of their last nine home openers. … Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor each homered in a second straight home opener. … Brandon Nimmo walked four times and leads the majors with 10 walks on the season.