Atlanta fell behind early in a 19-4 loss to Philadelphia as Cal Quantrill endured a rough 3.1 innings, yielding nine runs and four homers. Kyle Schwarber anchored the Phillies with a four-homer night. In Gwinnett, JR Ritchie flashed striking prowess with 11 Ks. On the wider MLB slate, Loáisiga is done for the season with a flexor strain, Corey Seager will have an appendectomy, Frankie Montas faces UCL surgery, and Francisco Alvarez fractured a pinkie but hopes to return this season.

Alvarez begins a rehab assignment this week, pain-free after a right thumb issue that plagued him since August. If minor-league rehab goes smoothly, he could rejoin the Mets for the final stretch, providing a powerful right-handed bat in a lineup that already benefited from his July return with over-1.000 OPS. The Mets will manage his timeline around defensive work and health, hoping his return sparks late-season impact.

In September, New York plans a turn-by-turn rotation, adding a sixth starter (Tong) while weighing rest for Kodai Senga, who owns a 2.73 ERA in his season. Senga’s workload and timing matter as the Mets balance rest with the chase for wins. The Subway Series raises the emotional backdrop as the Mets and Yankees renew a city rivalry and remember September 11 with ceremonies in the Bronx.

Overall, Alvarez’s comeback, Senga’s rest strategy, and Tong’s promotion shape the Mets’ late-season assumptions. If Alvarez stays healthy and productive, the Mets could squeeze meaningful production from their lineup in a crowded September slate, while the pitching staff nudges toward sustainable performances down the stretch.

RotoBallers’ Week 22 stash guide highlights 6 high-upside injured MLB bats and arms worth grabbing in IL spots or deep redrafts. Roki Sasaki’s recovery pace with the Dodgers signals late-season upside and playoff impact, while Tommy Edman’s return would add multi-position versatility. Francisco Alvarez and Chase Burns provide intriguing power and strikeout potential, with Wilyer Abreu and Max Muncy representing late-season pop and veteran stability.

These stashes lean into upside over obvious returns, emphasizing players with a path to meaningful weekly contributions as the season winds down. Managers should treat these adds as two-way bets: potential breakout weeks paired with real risk from IL timelines and innings limits.

Bottom line: targeting top stashes now could swing tight playoff weeks; monitor rehab progress and align adds with rosters that can absorb delayed returns or limited play in September.

New York rode a breakout from Luis Torrens to crush Philadelphia 13-3 in the opener of a pivotal NL East series. Torrens, batting ninth, went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs, including a run-scoring double off Cristopher Sánchez that chased him from the game. Kodai Senga vs. Sánchez was meant to be the marquee duel, but Torrens' night sparked a Mets attack that leaned on contributions from across the order, even as Lindor went 0-for-6.

Entering the night, Torrens carried a .575 OPS, making the nine-hole outburst even more dramatic. Francisco Alvarez was out with an injury, so the lineup leaned on steadying performances from others as the Mets cut the Phillies’ NL East lead to six games. With six more head-to-head matchups left this season, New York will need this kind of multi-spot production to keep pace in a tight division race.