3 takeaways from the Braves' demoralizing sweep of the Mets

3) Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez must be protected at all costs

The Mets' two biggest bats showed out in Atlanta, but Pete Alonso's series was cut short after he was plunked on the wrist by Charlie Morton in the first inning of Wednesday's game. Alonso blasted a 448-foot homer in the series opener to continue his league-leading power output, and luckily the X-rays on his wrist came back negative.

Like an alpha predator marking his territory, Francisco Alvarez welcomed Omar Narvaez back to the Mets with three home runs in two days, sustaining the trajectory that has him leading the conversation for both an All-Star spot and the National League Rookie of the Year award.

The Mets wasted the best efforts of their biggest hitters, which is all the more reason that the team will need them if it hopes to fight its way back into contention. With a pitching staff that gave up 43 hits in three games to a Braves lineup that only recently had failed to score more than four runs in six out of seven games, the Mets will need to win some slugfests if they hope to turn things around.

Alonso is considered day-to-day, and Alvarez has now shown that he can take over the DH spot when Narvaez gets the nod behind the plate. Whether he's hitting ninth or hitting second, there seems to be nothing the kid can't do. Both Alonso and Alvarez have exhibited the strength needed to hit baseballs a long way. Now it's time to see if they can carry the Mets on their backs.