Ailing Mets activate Francisco Alvarez with one question remaining for catcher

Francisco Alvarez’s quick comeback from a torn meniscus is official, as the catcher was reinstated from the IL Tuesday prior to the series opener against the Cardinals.Alvarez had been expected to miss six-to-eight weeks following the May 14 surgery on his right knee, but his recovery went much faster than expected, welcome news for a Mets team that is battered and in last place in the NL East.It remains to be seen how often Alvarez will catch upon his return, since he could DH.Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to open up a spot for Alvarez, the team announced. Alvarez will split time behind the plate with Luis Torrens.The Mets still have plenty of injury concerns, with Francisco Lindor out with a calf injury, Jorge Polanco now sidelined with an ankle injury, Luis Robert Jr.out indefinitely with lumbar spine disc herniation and Tyrone Taylor sidelined with a right hip flexor strain....