The New York Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil from the injured list Friday, and both were in the lineup to make their season debut in the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

After working their way back from injuries, Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez are ready to make their return to the Mets' starting lineup.

The Mets, already atop not only the National League East but MLB as a whole, have made do for the past four weeks without two of their key players. Prior to the opener of New York’s four-game series vs.