The bigger story for the Mets is who isn't on the field yet. Francisco Lindor (calf) and Tyrone Taylor (hip) both started rehab assignments at Double-A Binghamton on Friday, and manager Carlos Mendoza has floated a return as soon as this homestand. Lindor hasn't played since April 22. Getting him back in the lineup for Monday's series opener would be the kind of jolt that changes the math on the next three games — but if he needs another week of at-bats, the Mets are still rolling out a patchwork middle infield with Jorge Polanco and Ronny Mauricio also down.
Chicago has its own pitching situation to navigate. Justin Steele is on the 60-day IL, Cade Horton is out for the year, Jameson Taillon (hamstring) isn't expected back until after the All-Star break, and Matthew Boyd just hit a setback with shoulder soreness on top of the knee issue. That's a lot of innings for Craig Counsell to cover, and the bullpen lost late-inning piece Daniel Palencia to the IL last week too. The Mets, meanwhile, are down Clay Holmes, Christian Scott and Tylor Megill from their own rotation. This series is going to be decided by whichever staff can keep a slumping pitching depth chart upright for nine innings.
- Day-To-DayEdward Cabrera (SP) — Manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Cabrera's right hand is feeling better, and he's expected to be on a normal schedule leading up to his next start, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.06/17
- Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins (SP) — The Cubs announced Wednesday that Wiggins (elbow) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters at the organization's complex in Arizona and could soon be ready to pitch in games, MLB.com reports.06/13
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell (RP) — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJeff Brigham (RP) — Brigham was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, retroactive to April 6, with a left oblique strain, TwinsDaily.com reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd (SP) — Boyd (knee/shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.06/17
- 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (2-1) worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Monday's 5-4 victory over the Rockies. He struck out three.06/16
- 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon (SP) — Taillon (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.06/09
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele will throw plyo balls for the next week and then progress to throwing a baseball, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.06/15
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
- 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayChristian Arroyo (2B) — The Mets re-signed Arroyo to a minor-league contract Tuesday.06/17
- Day-To-DayRyan Lambert (RP) — Triple-A Syracuse placed Lambert on the 7-day injured list June 4 due to an unspecified injury.06/16
- Day-To-DayMike Baumann (RP) — Baumann signed a minor-league deal with the Mets on Wednesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.06/15
- Day-To-DayBrandon Waddell (RP) — Waddell (shoulder) picked up the win after allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two across three innings during Saturday's game against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.06/01
- Day-To-DayMike Tauchman (RF) — Tauchman (knee) is still rehabbing at the Mets' spring training complex and has yet to resume baseball activities, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.05/18
- Day-To-DayJoe Jacques (RP) — The Mets signed Jacques to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayKevin Herget (RP) — Herget signed a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training with the Mets on Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJose Rojas (3B) — Triple-A Salt Lake placed Rojas on its COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILTyrone Taylor (CF) — Taylor (hip) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Binghamton on Friday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.06/18
- 10-Day-ILFrancisco Lindor (SS) — Lindor (calf) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Binghamton on Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.06/18
- 10-Day-ILRonny Mauricio (SS) — Mauricio (thumb) could begin a rehab assignment later this week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.06/15
- 15-Day-ILChristian Scott (SP) — The Mets placed Scott on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right hip impingement.06/15
- 60-Day-ILJorge Polanco (1B) — An MRI on Polanco's left ankle/Achilles tendon came back negative Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.06/15
- 60-Day-ILLuis Robert Jr. (CF) — Robert (spine) said Thursday that his back has been responding better in recent days and he expects to return before the end of this season, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILClay Holmes (SP) — The Mets transferred Holmes (fibula) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/19
- 60-Day-ILReed Garrett (RP) — The Mets placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILDedniel Nunez (RP) — The Mets placed Nunez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJustin Hagenman (RP) — The Mets placed Hagenman on the 60-day injured list Saturday due to a rib fracture.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTylor Megill (SP) — The Mets placed Megill (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.05/08
The Cubs lean on Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker and the bats to outscore everyone while the rotation patches itself up. Soto is doing Soto things in Queens, and Marcus Semien delivered the big triple in Wednesday's win. With both teams banged up on the mound and capable of putting up crooked numbers, the opener of this 3-game set has more juice than the records suggest — and if Lindor walks into the home dugout on Monday, the whole tenor of the series changes.