Catcher Francisco Alvarez injured his right thumb during the seventh inning of Sunday’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The injury occurred when Alvarez slid head-first into second base after hitting a double off the right-field wall. He immediately called for time and was examined by the Mets’ training staff. Alvarez remained in the game to run the bases, advancing as far as third, but was replaced by Luis Torrens before the eighth inning.

Manager Carlos Mendoza explained what happened in the dugout. Alvarez initially told him, “I’m good, I’m good, I’m good.” When Alvarez then asked to play catch, Mendoza decided to remove him, saying, “Let’s not mess around with it and let’s go inside. I basically took it away from him. I didn’t want to even let him play catch.”

MRI Results and Mets’ Medical Plan

An MRI revealed an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain in Alvarez’s right thumb. The Mets placed him on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Team doctors and staff have determined that Alvarez will require surgery, but the timing remains undecided.

Alvarez will refrain from baseball activities for 10 to 14 days. After that period, he will begin a hitting progression and may eventually participate in Minor League rehab games. At that stage, team officials will evaluate if he can play effectively through the injury.

Mendoza outlined the team’s approach. “He needs surgery, obviously, but right now, talking to multiple doctors, the plan is to give him 10–14 days to calm down the inflammation and see where he’s at after that as far as gripping the bat, if he’s going to be able to swing,” he said. “If he goes and has surgery right now, he’s going to be done for the season anyway. So, he wants to give it a try. We’re hopeful that he can play through this, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Three doctors evaluated Alvarez and agreed there was little harm in delaying the procedure. The surgery typically requires six to eight weeks of recovery. Regardless of when it occurs, Alvarez is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training in 2026. Mendoza added, “Time will tell.”

Why the Mets Are Holding Out Hope

The Mets’ optimism partly comes from a precedent involving former Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia tore the UCL in his left thumb on Opening Day in 2013 but played the entire season. He was named an All-Star, won a Gold Glove, and finished seventh in MVP voting, while helping Boston win the World Series.

Alvarez’s case is different from Pedroia’s. The injury is to his throwing hand rather than his receiving hand, which team officials consider a positive. Mendoza explained, “The throwing, we don’t think it’s going to be the issue. It’s more swinging the bat and gripping the bat. That’s why we’re still optimistic, because it’s not the receiving hand.”

Still, the timing of the injury is frustrating. Alvarez had been in the middle of his best offensive stretch since his rookie season. After a brief stint at Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the year, he returned to the majors in late July and surged at the plate, hitting .323/.408/.645 with four home runs, six doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 21 games. On the season overall, he has batted .265/.349/.438 with seven home runs in 56 games.

Alvarez’s Injury History and the Catching Situation

Hand problems are nothing new for Alvarez. In 2024, he missed nearly two months following surgery to repair a UCL sprain in his left thumb. In the spring of 2025, he fractured his left hamate bone, required surgery, and missed the first month of the regular season.

With Alvarez sidelined, the Mets will turn to Luis Torrens as their starting catcher. Torrens has filled in for Alvarez before and is considered one of the game’s top defensive catchers, particularly in throwing out baserunners. However, his offensive numbers have lagged, with a .214/.280/.301 line in 76 games this year. Rookie Hayden Senger has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as Torrens’ backup.

Mendoza acknowledged the pressure on his remaining catchers. “He’s a good player,” the manager said of Torrens. “He showed it last year when we acquired him. He was a big part of this team at the beginning of the year — him and Senger both — when we were winning a lot of games. We’re going to need those guys to step up now.”

Mets’ Playoff Position and Betting Market Reaction

The Mets entered Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals with a 66–58 record. They currently hold the third and final National League playoff spot, one game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds. Over their past 30 games, the Mets have gone 13–17, while the Reds have gone 17–13.

Sportsbooks have adjusted their outlook on the Mets. Following the signing of Juan Soto in December 2024, odds on the Mets to win the World Series shortened from +1400 to +800. As of Aug. 21, 2025, BetMGM listed the Mets at +1500 to win the World Series, while FanDuel had them at +1600. Covers’ consensus odds were shorter at +1200.

Additional futures markets list the Mets at +800 to win the National League pennant and +700 to win the NL East. DraftKings’ playoff market most recently priced the Mets at -290 to make the postseason and +245 to miss.

Daily game lines have also reflected the uncertainty. For one mid-August matchup, consensus odds placed the Mets as slight favorites around -115 to -130, with totals set at 8.5 runs. Sports betting splits showed as much as 88% of the handle on the Mets’ moneyline in a recent game.

In award markets, Pete Alonso was listed at +6500 for National League MVP earlier in the season. As of this week, his odds have lengthened significantly, with DraftKings posting him at +20000 and other books listing him in the +15000 range.

In a separate move, the Mets released veteran right-hander Paul Blackburn on Tuesday.

Alvarez will be reevaluated after his 10-to-14-day rest period. If he can grip the bat and swing effectively, he may return in September. If not, surgery will end his season. Regardless of the outcome, surgery is expected either during or after the 2025 season.

Mendoza concluded, “We’re hopeful that he can play through this, but we’ve just got to wait and see.”

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, Paul Goldschmidt returned to Busch Stadium as a member of the New York Yankees. The 37-year-old first baseman played six seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals after joining them in 2019. During that time, he won a Gold Glove Award, a Silver Slugger Award, and was named the 2022 National League Most Valuable Player. He received MVP votes in four of his six years in St. Louis.

Goldschmidt became a fan-favorite and a leader in the Cardinals organization. Before his first at-bat on Sunday, he received a standing ovation from the Busch Stadium crowd.

Three Hits and a Historic Milestone

Starting at first base for the Yankees, Goldschmidt went 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI. His third hit of the day was the 2,169th of his career, moving him past former Cardinals teammate Yadier Molina on the all-time hit list.

“Baseball doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme: Paul Goldschmidt’s third hit of the day in his first start back at Busch Stadium against his former team, the Cardinals, was the 2,169 of his career,” Goldschmidt said. “That passes former STL teammate Yadier Molina on the career hit list.”

Goldschmidt had missed time earlier in the week with a sprained right knee injury, which initially raised concerns that he could be placed on the injured list. He entered Friday’s game as a defensive replacement at first base, a move Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted he was reluctant to make. By Sunday, he was cleared to start and responded with a pair of doubles and a strong offensive performance.

“Obviously for us to get the win, for me to get a couple hits, it was good,” Goldschmidt said. “I tried not to, but definitely it was a little bit in the back of my mind. But you just go play. I knew there was no extra added risk to playing. So just go play and try to play well.”

“I really wasn’t worried about the knee,” he continued. “But there’s this weird subconscious when you had hurt something or your body maybe wants to test it out a little bit. I’d hit fine, I’d done defense, but to get out there and play nine, it was good. I wouldn’t have told Booney and them I was ready if I thought I was going to jeopardize our team or even myself.”

Boone summarized the showing by saying, “That’s classic Goldie right there. He flashed it today.”

Goldschmidt’s performance also coincided with movement in the betting market. His home run prop was listed between +600 and +630 at major sportsbooks on Tuesday. In the same period, the Yankees’ game lines against the Tampa Bay Rays shifted from an opening number near -135 to around -142 by first pitch, with totals moving between 8 and 8.5 runs. New York’s World Series futures, which stood at +850 on August 1, lengthened to +1400 by August 18 and tightened back to about +1000 on August 19. Caesars posted the Yankees at +960, while FanDuel and BetMGM listed prices between +1000 and +1200. Experts at outlets including Action Network and the New York Post highlighted the Yankees’ early-game moneyline as a focus during this stretch.

Yankees Secure 8-4 Win and Sweep

The Yankees’ 8-4 victory on Sunday completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals. It was their fifth win in six games, while St. Louis extended its losing streak to five games.

New York starter Will Warren pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits. He struck out three and walked one. Reliever Luke Weaver improved to 3-3 with the win. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas allowed three runs on four hits and five walks in five innings, striking out one. JoJo Romero took the loss, dropping to 4-5.

The Yankees scored three runs in the fourth inning. Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked, advanced to third on Goldschmidt’s double, and scored on Jasson Dominguez’s infield single. Ryan McMahon and Jose Caballero added RBI singles.

The Cardinals responded in the bottom half. Ivan Herrera reached on an error, Jordan Walker walked, and Thomas Saggese hit a two-run double. In the fifth inning, Lars Nootbaar singled, advanced to second on an error, and scored on Alec Burleson’s RBI single to tie the game.

Yohel Pozo hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give St. Louis a 4-3 lead. The Yankees tied it in the seventh when Trent Grisham walked, advanced to third on Aaron Judge’s single, and scored on Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly.

In the ninth inning, Caballero reached on a two-base error and moved to third on a passed ball. Giancarlo Stanton walked as a pinch hitter, Judge was intentionally walked, and Bellinger’s ground ball through the right side was ruled an error that allowed two runs to score. Chisholm’s grounder drove in another run, and Goldschmidt doubled to bring in one more, extending the lead to 8-4.

Ejections, Injuries, and Team Notes

Third base umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson in the fourth inning after multiple players protested a called third strike to Trent Grisham. Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas stepped off the mound and pointed toward the Yankees’ dugout before the ejection. In the seventh inning, home plate umpire Nic Lentz ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol for arguing balls and strikes.

Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar left the game after seven innings due to cramping. For the Yankees, Jonathan Loáisiga began a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, throwing 16 pitches in a scoreless inning. Fernando Cruz made his second rehab appearance in the same game, allowing two runs in one inning while throwing 20 pitches. Amed Rosario participated in defensive work before Sunday’s game and is expected to be activated from the injured list when eligible.

The New York Knicks’ 2024-25 season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers. Even though they didn’t make it to the Finals, it was a big year for the team, as Karl-Anthony Towns helped lead them to the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.

The last time New York advanced that far was in 2000, when they also faced the Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, who sent them home and pushed Indiana to the NBA Finals. The same script repeated itself in 2025, but Towns said that reaching that stage still made the year a success.

Towns Shares How Carmelo Anthony Inspired His First Knicks Year

On Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, Towns expressed how meaningful the season felt in his first year in New York.

“It’s special, you know. You never know that in 5 months you would get to the Conference Finals. Something that hasn’t been done in 25 years,” Towns shared.

The Knicks’ postseason included a memorable second-round series against the Boston Celtics. After defeating Boston in six games, Towns described the reaction in New York as unforgettable.

“They was lit, I ain’t gonna lie. To see them after that Boston Celtics series, that was special,” he said.

Critics argue that Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, which forced him to miss the final two games, played a part in Boston’s downfall. However, the Knicks were already close to taking control of the series before the injury occurred, and they closed out the matchup efficiently. For Towns, the victory was a personal highlight.

“It was something that, you know, you watch it on TV. Watching you play, and to be a part of that history is something that I could’ve never thought,” he continued, speaking directly to Carmelo Anthony.

Carmelo Anthony’s Influence on Towns’ Knicks Experience

Towns said that Carmelo Anthony’s career inspired his dream of playing for the Knicks one day. On the podcast, he told Anthony how much watching him at Madison Square Garden meant to him as a young fan.

“I mean, when I was growing up, I was watching you play. So, it was like seeing you in the garden. Seeing the magical moments you made and everything, and kind of being able to make my own history there,” Towns said.

Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time All-Star across his career with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, never won an MVP or a championship, but he was consistently recognized for his scoring ability and clutch performances. Towns explained how those “magical moments” he watched growing up motivated him to step into the Garden and create memories of his own.

There’s already a clear difference between what each has done in New York. Anthony never made it to the Eastern Conference Finals with the Knicks, but Towns reached that round in just his first season with the team.

At the same time, oddsmakers adjusted their futures boards following New York’s deep playoff run and offseason changes. According to ESPN BET, the Knicks are +800 to win the 2026 NBA Championship and +270 to win the Eastern Conference. At BetMGM, New York is +850 to win the title, with a regular-season win total of 53.5 (Over +100 / Under -120). BetMGM’s tracker shows the Knicks opened at +900 and have since improved to +750. Covers lists New York with +900 opening odds for the championship, while Sports Illustrated reported the Knicks at +750 on June 22.

For individual markets, OddsShark data from FanDuel on August 15 placed Karl-Anthony Towns at +40,000 to win MVP and +4,000 to win Finals MVP.

Towns’ First-Year Numbers with New York Knicks

Statistically, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered one of the most complete seasons of his career. Across 72 games, he averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range.

His 12.8 rebounds per game were the most he’s ever had in a season, and his contributions earned him his fifth All-Star appearance and a place on the All-NBA Third Team.

Those numbers carried into the playoffs, where he and Jalen Brunson drove the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals. For New York fans, it was the deepest playoff journey in a generation and a reminder of the city’s passion for basketball.

Kendrick Perkins Comments on Towns’ Expectations for 2025–26

As Towns prepares for his second season in New York, attention has shifted from celebration to expectation. Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins spoke on ESPN’s NBA Today, placing Towns under the spotlight.

“When you talk about players, which players are under the most pressure to deliver, that’s Karl-Anthony Towns,” Perkins said. “Like it’s time for him to deliver. It’s been a lot of criticism when it comes down to Luka Doncic and what he did defensively, and being in shape. Well, KAT falls in that category.”

Perkins praised Towns’ offensive skillset while challenging him to improve his defense and conditioning.

“KAT is a walking bucket. He’s one of one. Arguably the best shooting big we’ve ever seen. He’s really, really skilled, but that’s not what he needs to correct. He needs to correct his ability to get up and down the floor, be able to slide those puppies, because he was getting cooked in the big role.”

Despite his critiques, Perkins acknowledged Towns’ offensive dominance, particularly his ability to space the floor alongside Jalen Brunson.

Knicks’ Potential Adjustments and Outlook

According to lineup data, in 140 non-garbage time possessions with Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward and Mitchell Robinson on the floor, New York outscored opponents by 19 points per 100 possessions, a sign that a two-big lineup could ease some of Towns’ defensive burdens.

Still, the challenge remains steep. Experts pointed out that the 2024-25 season may have been the Knicks’ best opportunity to capture the East, as they entered the Pacers series with home-court advantage but lost the first two games at Madison Square Garden.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming to rebound from their own playoff exit, the Orlando Magic showed major improvement, and the Boston Celtics will eventually recover and reload.

For Karl-Anthony Towns, turning 30 soon means the window for championship contention is narrowing. His first season gave Knicks fans hope and rekindled the energy of Madison Square Garden, but the pressure for him to deliver a title has only just begun.