Francisco Alvarez exits Mets game early with thumb injury in major concern

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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Francisco Alvarez's season took another bad turn Sunday, as the catcher suffered another injury scare in a 7-3 win over the Mariners in the Little League Classic.
Alvarez was removed prior to the eighth inning after injuring his right thumb on a headfirst slide into second in the bottom of the seventh.
He'll return to New York and get an MRI on the thumb Monday, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
He was checked out by trainers and initially remained in the game before he was replaced by Luis Torrens to start the eighth.
'We don't know what we're dealing with,' the manager said.
Alvarez wanted to play catch between innings to see if he could remain in the game, but Mendoza didn't want to risk it.
Given Alvarez's history with hand and wrist injuries, this one is 'concerning. I'm not gonna lie. It's the third time, but I'm not gonna sit here and speculate,' Mendoza said.
Earlier this year, Alvarez suffered a left hamate fracture, and when he struggled on both sides of the plate coming back from that injury, he was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse.
Alvarez also underwent surgery on his left thumb last season.
He'd impressed the Mets with both his production and work ethic after the demotion, and his play remained improved after his return to the majors.
Alvarez entered Sunday on a 6-for-16 tear, with four extra-base hits, including three homers.
Then he added two doubles and a single before leaving the game.
Nolan McLean's past few days began with him at Triple-A Syracuse before being called up to make his MLB debut with the Mets on Saturday at Citi Field, then traveling with the team to the Little League Classic in his second day as a major leaguer.
'It was a crazy turn of events for me,' McLean said prior to the Mets facing the Mariners on Sunday night. 'From being in Rochester [with Syracuse] to Citi Field to now Williamsport, I kind of can't believe it.'
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McLean delivered a much-needed boost to the underperforming Mets rotation with 5 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in Saturday's win in Queens.
'Once I got out of the game and then when it was over, the Gatorade bath caught me off guard,' McLean said. 'Hearing the crowd was surreal for me. It was the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of, so that was special.'
The 24-year-old allowed just two hits and four walks and struck out eight against the Mariners.
He began the year with Double-A Binghamton before moving to Syracuse after five impressive outings, then put up a 2.78 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) at Triple-A before getting called up.
Saturday's debut by McLean was highly anticipated, mostly due to how poorly much of the rest of the rotation has pitched lately, while McLean and Brandon Sproat — and more recently Jonah Tong at Triple-A — have impressed in the minors.
Tylor Megill took an encouraging step to a return to the rotation in a rehab start Sunday with Double-A Binghamton, as the right-hander whiffed nine in 3 ¹/₃ innings.
He threw 55 pitches as he works his way back from an elbow strain that has sidelined him since mid-June.
Ryan Helsley, who'd been scored upon in his previous four appearances (seven runs, five earned, in 2 ¹/₃ innings), tossed a scoreless eighth inning. … The start of Sunday's game was delayed by rain. … Luisangel Acuña served as the 27th man for the Mets.