The clock is ticking on the Mets’ catching situation.
Gary Sanchez, who has hit well in his first week of action with Triple-A Syracuse, can opt out of his minor league contract Friday.
If the Mets want to give the fallen, former Yankees star a try, they likely would have to create a roster spot by this weekend.
It would not be easy for a club that will soon be sending Tomas Nido, who has been out with dry eye syndrome, on a rehab assignment, is likely a few weeks from getting Omar Narvaez back from his left calf strain and is playing top prospect Francisco Alvarez, who has impressed defensively and has begun to look more comfortable at the plate.
Alvarez hit his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot, in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday to send the Mets’ game against the Rays to extra innings, and they won 8-7 in 10 innings on a three-run homer by Pete Alonso.
Their active backup catcher is Michael Perez, who only has made one start, but went 4-for-4 in Washington on Saturday.
For a team that likely can only carry two catchers, the Mets soon will have to decide whether to bring up Sanchez, and if so, whether to option Alvarez or attempt to trade Nido.
“I know he’s trying hard to get back to the big leagues,” manager Buck Showalter said of Sanchez, who has a .531 on-base percentage with one home run, eight walks and nine strikeouts in his first seven games with Syracuse. “Seems to be doing pretty well there. I know we have a lot of our catching people in town working with him.
“At some point you’re hoping that maybe you can get something there that might click for him. But he seems to be swinging the bat OK.”
The 30-year-old Sanchez, who opted out of his pact with the Giants before the Mets pounced, was a two-time All-Star for the Yankees before a precipitous drop, beginning in 2020, and has never looked like the same player since.
Kodai Senga, who allowed one earned run in six innings Wednesday, set a career-high with 12 strikeouts and became the first Mets pitcher this season with a double-digit strikeout game.
Everything was working for Senga, who induced 18 swings and misses, seven with his ghost forkball/splitter.
“I think soon it’s going to be a cat-and-mouse game where: Are they going to look for the fastball? Are they going to look for the splitter?” Senga said through an interpreter. “I just need to make the right decision.”
Showalter bumped Eduardo Escobar, who has been hot as a pinch hitter or as a platoon bat against opposing lefties, up to No. 2 in the order.
Escobar reached on a walk in two plate appearances before he was pulled for pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil.
“He works his butt off, even if he’s playing or not playing. He’s always ready,” Showalter said of Escobar, who is 9-for-22 (.409) with three home runs in his past 10 games. “There’s a good feeling around him right now. You’re expecting something good to happen.”
Escobar lost his everyday job at third base to Brett Baty after hitting .120 in his first 15 games this season.
The infielder, who is beloved in the clubhouse, also struggled for much of last season before he had a terrific September.
“We know what he’s capable of for four or five weeks if he gets it going,” Showalter said. “Maybe it’s happening in May rather than August or September.”
With a second-inning single, Tommy Pham snapped an 0-for-15 slump that had persisted despite his consistent solid contact.
Pham came into the game with a 45.3 percent hard-hit rate, which was near the top for the Mets and ahead of Alonso (41.9 percent).
“He’s No. 1 in bad luck,” Showalter said of Pham, who also walked before he was lifted for pinch-hitter Daniel Vogelbach. “It’s been tough because he’s had some balls that just can’t seem to back the hard contact he’s making. But that usually works itself out.”
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