Houser could not have drawn up a worse start to the game, surrendering four hits to the first five batters. Extra-base knocks from Paul Goldschmidt and Brendan Donovan opened the game up, as the Cardinals took an early 4-0 lead. Nolan Gorman would add to the scoring with an RBI double in third, and in the fifth, another run was charged to Houser with Josh Walker on the mound. From start to finish, it was another tough day for the right-handed starter. Houser allowed six runs on nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings.

“The way I’m pitching right now is pretty unacceptable. Need to be better. Can’t be putting these guys in a hole right at the beginning of the game,” Houser said. Even when he has been able to avoid first inning trouble, opponents have been able to force him into long innings. Through five starts, Houser owns a 9.00 ERA in the the first inning, allow seven hits, four of which have been doubles.

Adrian Houser. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

It is early in the season so there isn’t a lot of data, but the numbers suggest Houser is at his best when working with Francisco Alvarez. In 10 1/3 innings with Alvarez behind the plate, the starters owns a 2.61 ERA. In comparison, Houser has a 10.61 ERA in 9 1/3 innings with Omar Narváez and a 18.00 ERA in four innings with Tomás Nido. Catcher’s wins are always a tricky statistic, especially with more and more of the calls coming by either the pitcher themselves or the dugout, however, Alvarez’s absence may just be hurting the team in more ways than one.

If this level of pitching continues for him, it won’t be long before he is out of the rotation. Tylor Megill threw two perfect innings in his first rehab start for the Brooklyn Cyclones on Saturday. Additionally, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that starter Kodai Senga could face hitters in live batting practice as soon a Monday. Reinforcements are on the way, and if Houser is unable to pick it up, he will be the odd man out when either of them return from the injured list. Not to mention, the Mets have a young option, in top prospect Christian Scott (3.48 ERA in Triple-A), waiting in the wings with Syracuse (Triple-A).

If, or when Houser is demoted from the rotation, it is possible that the Mets could use him in the bullpen as a long reliever. Houser occupied that role in his early years with the Milwaukee Brewers, most notably in 2019. He made 35 appearances that season, 17 of which came as a reliever. Houser has only six relief appearances since then, so it would take him time to get comfortable in that role again. Regardless, it is more than likely that his role is set to drastically change in the next two or three weeks.

The post Adrian Houser’s Struggles Continue As Potential Replacements Near Return appeared first on Metsmerized.

Francisco Alvarez, Photo by Richard Nelson

Heading into their most important series of the year, the Mets plan to promote top prospect Francisco Álvarez per multiple reports.

Álvarez, 20, is currently listed as the No. 1 prospect in baseball according to MLB pipeline.

Per Joel Sherman, the plan is for Álvarez to get designated hitter at-bats against lefties. The first pitcher the Mets are scheduled to face on Friday is lefty Max Fried.

Álvarez began the season with the Mets Double-A affiliate Binghamton and crushed his way through 67 games at the level. He hit 19 home runs with a slash line of .277/.368/.553, earning a promotion to Triple-A.

Álvarez hasn’t put up the same total numbers in 45 games at the minors’ highest level (nine home runs and a slash line of .234/.382/.443) but fans have been clamoring for the call-up of a prospect described as “generational.”

Recently for Triple-A Syracuse, Álvarez has found his groove. In September he has a 1.079 OPS. He reached base in his last 12 games.

Álvarez is the third of the Mets top prospects to earn a promotion this month, following the additions of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos to the major league roster. Álvarez is not on the 40-man roster and a corresponding move will have to be made for his activation.

New York has a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves this weekend. The Mets have a one-game lead in the National League East and are all in on maintaining that when the weekend ends.

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