Monday's series opener at Citi Field has a 7:10 PM ET first pitch, and on paper it's a tale of two clubs going opposite directions of where anyone expected them to be in mid-June. The Cubs are 39-36 and still hanging around the NL Central race despite a rotation that's been hollowed out by injuries. The Mets are 34-41, finally showing some life, and possibly days away from getting their shortstop back.
Both teams limp into this one in a glass-half-full sort of way. Chicago took 2 of 3 from the Rockies at Wrigley and is 3-2 over its last 5. New York just stole the opener in Philadelphia 6-4 behind a 2-homer night from Juan Soto and is also 3-2 in its last 5 — though a 0-12 beating in Cincinnati on June 15 is still in the rearview mirror. Neither side is exactly steamrolling, but neither is sinking either.
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.
- 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.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell RP — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.
- 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.
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd SP — Boyd (knee/shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Day-To-DayChristian Arroyo 2B — The Mets re-signed Arroyo to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
- Day-To-DayRyan Lambert RP — Triple-A Syracuse placed Lambert on the 7-day injured list June 4 due to an unspecified injury.
- Day-To-DayMike Baumann RP — Baumann signed a minor-league deal with the Mets on Wednesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
- 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.
- 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.
- Day-To-DayJoe Jacques RP — The Mets signed Jacques to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
- 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.
- 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.
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.