Following the conclusion of the World Baseball Classic, MLB teams have ramped up their preparations for the 2026 season, which kicks off next week.
However, as preparations ramp up, teams have been hit by injury concerns. The New York Mets are sweating on the availability of catcher Francisco Alvarez, who is suffering from back tightness.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza updated on Alvarez’s situation, who was removed early from Thursday’s game against the Houston Astros.
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“Back started to get tight and it was just precautionary,” Mendoza said. “Trainers took a look at him and seems to be doing ok. He said that if this was the regular season, he could keep playing. As of right now, he’s day-to-day. He’s not scheduled to play tomorrow. We’ll see where we’re at for the following day.”
Alvarez was 8-for-22 (.364) with three doubles, one home run in Spring Training games before being pulled out of Thursday’s game against the Astros.
In addition to the Mets, the Toronto Blue Jays are facing injury issues heading into the 2026 season. Blue Jays ace Trey Yesavage, who had a historic run during the postseason last year, is reported to start the 2026 season on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement.
Blue Jays manager unsure about Trey Yesavage’s return timeline for 2026 season
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Yesavage arrived for spring training with his injury and he is unsure about his return timeline. Yesavage is expected to start throwing from the mound next week.
“In terms of a timeline, nothing definitive,” Schneider said. “But he is feeling really good right now, so I think in a good place to build up. We’ll just kind of see where that goes.”
Yesavage was called up to the Blue Jays roster in September and played a crucial role in the AL East team’s run through to the World Series. He went 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in five postseason starts, striking out 39 batters, including a 12-strikeout game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.
Apart from Yesavage, the Blue Jays will also have Jose Berrios (elbow) and Shane Bieber (forearm) on the injured list for the start of the 2026 season.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
