Francisco Alvarez can DH for the Mets, but will have to prove himself first

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Francisco Alvarez could receive opportunities beyond his catching duties with the Mets, but he needs to prove his worth.

The 21-year-old rookie was behind the plate Tuesday in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse last week. Before the Mets lost 4-2 to the Padres at Citi Field, manager Buck Showalter was asked if Alvarez would be a consideration as a DH when he wasn’t catching.

“If he shows he’s an offensive force here,” Showalter said in response to the question.

Alvarez then went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the loss.

Included was a strikeout against Josh Hader for the game finale with runners on second and third base. Alvarez is 1 for 8 (.125) with an RBI since his promotion.

Likewise, Showalter said he would consider Alvarez pinch duty — even heading into the final innings — if he thought it was the right place.

With only two receivers on the roster, the risk would be to leave the team shorthanded if Tomas Nido were forced out of a game. If Alvarez was the DH and had to move behind the plate, the Mets would lose the DH.

Alvarez’s powerful right-handed bat helped establish him as the Mets’ No. 1 prospect, but he still hasn’t received many opportunities above the Double-A level.

Mets rookie receiver Francisco AlvarezBill Kostrun/New York Post

He struggled at home plate during spring training for the Mets this year and was opted for Syracuse before Omar Narvaez was placed on injured reserve on Friday with left calf strain that should keep him at bay. the gap until June.

Brett Baty hit his third homer of the season in a 3-on-5 performance for Syracuse. Baty boasts a 1.351 OPS in five games – he missed action last week with a sore right thumb that forced him out of a game early.

Baty’s hot start came as the Mets are still waiting for Eduardo Escobar to warm up.

Escobar bats just .111, and the club’s early offensive struggles only increase the pressure on Escobar, with Baty – who battled for the starting third baseman position in spring training – awaiting an opportunity with dishes.

Showalter said he doesn’t expect Justin Verlander to return from the injured list to pitch on the Mets’ 10-game trip to the West Coast, which begins Friday in Oakland.

Tylor Megill, who replaced Verlander in the rotation, is scheduled to kick off the series finale on Wednesday against the Padres and should start at least once on the road.

Verlander, who is recovering from a strained teres major near his right armpit, said last week he plans to launch sometime in April.

Showalter said the plan was for Verlander to pitch in a minor league rehab game before making his first start for the Mets.

Seth Elledge, a right-handed pitcher, was taken off waivers for the Braves and opted for Syracuse.

Jose Quintana has been moved to the 60-day injured list to create space on the 40-man roster.

Elledge played in 23 games as a reliever in his major league career and threw a 4.63 ERA.

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