New York Post

Alvarez behind plate as his return nears

Francisco Alvarez caught seven innings with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday as he gets closer to a potential return to the Mets lineup by the middle of the month.

Carlos Mendoza said prior to Saturday’s 10-5 loss to the Diamondbac­ks at Citi Field that the 22-year-old’s first rehab game Thursday went well.

Asked if Alvarez might be back by the time the Mets play the Phillies in a two-game series in London next weekend, the manager said, “We’ll see.”

It’s been a fast process so far for Alvarez, who’s been out since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb in April.

He hit an opposite-field homer in his second at-bat Thursday, but went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Saturday.

Mendoza added there are still more steps for Alvarez to take before he gets back.

He is slated to catch again Sunday

with Binghamton, with an off day Monday, and then another rehab game Tuesday.

“He’s progressin­g well and in the right direction,’’ Mendoza said. “He’s got to continue to catch, swing the bat, face [more] velo and then build up from seven to eight to nine innings [defensivel­y]. He has to get physically back into baseball shape.”

Mark Vientos followed up a three-hit game Friday with two more hits Saturday — including a 440-foot solo homer in the fifth.

The performanc­e came after Vientos was given the third-base job following Brett Baty’s being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

“I feel a lot more comfortabl­e [than last year],’’ Vientos said.

“He’s special,’’ Mendoza said. “He’s got power. That ball went a long way. He’s had good at-bats overall.”

Vientos also showed his shaky defense as he bounced a throw to first base on a Eugenio Suarez grounder in the sixth, but Pete Alonso made the scoop.

The battered Mets bullpen is set to get another arm back either Sunday or Monday as Drew Smith is set to be activated off the 15-day IL after recovering from right shoulder soreness. The return of Smith is especially welcome because the Mets are without Edwin Diaz (right shoulder impingemen­t) and Brooks Raley is out for the year following elbow surgery.

Mendoza said there was nothing new regarding Kodai Senga’s comeback from his shoulder injury, although the right-hander was on the field prior to Saturday’s game, going through throwing drills.

When asked if there were any plans for Senga to advance to throwing off a mound, the manager said, “As of now, no.”