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3 NY Mets players who’ve helped confirm they found their new Grimace last Sunday

Pablo Sanchez is becoming a Mets legend with these three players doing the winning on his behalf.
ByTim Boyle|
Jul 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (6) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Jul 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (6) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
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3) Francisco Alvarez

The Mets haven’t hit a whole lot and their pitching hasn’t been its sharpest in the Pablo Sanchez era. Our third member of this elite team of justice fighters has to be Francisco Alvarez whose return came just a day after Pablo put his magic blessing on the 2025 Mets. Alvarez has played in 5 games, sitting for only the day game against the Angels. A hit in each of the first four and two on Sunday confirmed he learned a few tricks down in Triple-A that he’ll keep stashed in the barrel of his bat.

A .353/.450/.765 slash line since getting recalled, Alvarez is a player who seems to always represent the rise or fall of the Mets. That’s because expectations are through the roof for him on both sides of the ball. His ability to work with pitchers affects them. His offense either lengthens or shortens the lineup. Lately, I’ve been feeling some vertigo at how tall the lineup has stood with him near the bottom looking like a threat.

A pair of doubles, a triple, and a home run, Alvarez is 6 for 17 with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. He has done everything right. His games have been so evenly balanced with no major clusters. This is actually a good thing. Consistency is shining through.

As much as we’d love to see Alvarez be a middle of the order solution, we’re satisfied with him hitting near the bottom of the lineup and maybe popping a home run or starting a rally of his own. With the top and middle of the lineup slumping through the Pablo Sanchez-inspired winning streak, we have to be thankful the Mets viewed Alvarez as an answer; that’s exactly what he has been.

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