Francisco Alvarez returns for Mets as team pursues wild-card spot

Francisco Alvarez has been activated from the injured list, returning to the Mets after a month sidelined with a torn meniscus. The 24-year-old catcher joins a Mets team that is currently five games behind the third wild-card spot in the National League. Despite a challenging season marked by injuries to key players, the Mets have shown signs of improvement, winning seven of their last eleven games. They currently hold a record of 29-36 and are set to face the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series. Alvarez's return adds depth to a struggling lineup, which ranks near the bottom in several offensive categories.

• 7:22 PMCBS MLB — Francisco Alvarez returns just a month after suffering torn meniscus as Mets hang around tight wild-card race