Kyle Hendricks, the 34-year-old right-hander, is working towards a reset in his pitching form after a rocky start to the season. Despite his current struggles, Hendricks’ veteran presence is still valued within the Cubs’ organization. The pitcher is committed to improving his execution, focusing on the mental aspects of the game, and honing his arm path to regain his previous form.
Francisco Alvarez, the Mets catcher, has undergone surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. The injury occurred while rounding first base at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The surgery is expected to keep Alvarez out for eight weeks, placing his earliest return date in late June. Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido will share catching duties in Alvarez’s absence, with Narvaez likely seeing more action due to his left-handed swing. Alvarez will be allowed to begin baseball activities once he regains 80% strength in his thumb. Max Kranick has been reinstated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, providing additional rotation depth.
