The Mets make a quick decision from Francisco Alvarez as the catcher hits bottom

Carlos Mendoza immediately shut down the speculation.

“Alvie is playing tomorrow,” the Mets manager said after Wednesday's 8-0 Game 3 loss to the Dodgers at Citi Field.

But there's a reason for the speculation about Francisco Alvarez's playing time: The Mets are currently doing poorly with the young catcher, who generally performs well.

At the plate, Alvarez struck out in all three of his at-bats, including a big one in the second inning, falling to 5-for-35 (.143) with no extra-base hits, with 13 strikeouts and just one walk in the postseason.

Defensively, Alvarez made a bad throw and probably a poor decision to give the Dodgers their first two runs in the second inning, both of which were unearned.

Mendoza remained loyal to Alvarez, who has been a starter in every postseason and “maybe tries to do a little too much at times,” the manager said Tuesday.

He seemed to be trying to do too much as no one dropped out and Max Muncy went first in the second round.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a dribbler in front of the plate that Alvarez pounced on, trying to reach the top scorer.

It would have been a close play at second base if the ball had reached a glove.

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That wasn't the case: Alvarez's throw hit a slipping Muncy, ensuring every runner was safe and the Dodgers had a rally.

“It's a bang-bang game at second base,” Mendoza said after two infield singles and a sacrifice fly gave the Dodgers a lead they didn't relinquish. “I don’t know if (Jose) Iglesias had caught that ball, it would be out. Maybe I tried to do a little too much there.”

Alvarez would have had opportunities to redeem his mistakes, but he couldn't capitalize on them, which was the story of his postseason.

He had repeated opportunities to blow up Game 2 on Monday but failed to do so, leaving seven on base.

He left three more on base Wednesday when big spots at the plate once again seemed to find him and he once again came up empty.

In the bottom of the second, the Mets loaded the bases with one out for Alvarez, who certainly seemed to be trying to do too much on the first pitch, where he swung hard and threw his bat into the net behind the plate.

Four pitches later, Alvarez froze on a fastball called a strike three, his first of three punch-outs in which his bat didn't leave his shoulder.

The Mets declined to make Alvarez available afterward, saying he would speak to reporters before Game 4 on Thursday.

“I think offensively he’s somewhere in between,” Mendoza said. “I think he makes his move too late, which doesn't allow him to make some good swing decisions. This is why you sometimes see him take the fastball or play the fastball late and then chase it.

“That immediately shows you that we have a man who is late to get ready.”

The Mets' problem isn't just a struggling Alvarez, but also the lack of a reliable option behind him.

After a great start at the club, Luis Torrens has cooled off. He didn't face a tackle in October and finished the regular season with an 0-for-16 mark.

Whether it's trust in the incumbent or a lack of trust in the backup, the Mets aren't planning on making any changes behind the plate.

“He is a good batsman. He’s a good player,” Mendoza said of Alvarez. “We’re also dealing with an elite pitching team. He will be there for us.”