NEW YORK -- Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez was placed on the paternity list Tuesday before New York opened a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
Luis Torrens was set to start in place of Alvarez, who is batting .255 with two home runs, 10 RBIs and a .676 OPS in 29 games. He was activated April 25 after beginning the season on the injured list with a hamate fracture in his left hand.
The 23-year-old Alvarez is coming off one of his best games of the year Sunday at Coors Field, where he went 3 for 5 with two RBI and a 450-foot homer to straightaway center field in a 13-5 victory over the major league-worst Colorado Rockies.