Sean Manaea (1-2, 4.87 ERA) draws the start for New York against Trey Yesavage (3-3, 3.56 ERA) for a 7:07 PM ET first pitch at Rogers Centre. Manaea's last outing went sideways in a hurry — 3 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 86 pitches against the Cubs on June 24, walking away with a no-decision. Yesavage, who was a centerpiece of Toronto's 2025 World Series run and opened this season looking dominant, has run into trouble of late, making this a matchup with real volatility potential in both starting slots.
The Mets come into this series under new interim manager Andy Green, who took over after the club bottomed out and Carlos Mendoza was shown the door. Green got his first win on June 27 — a 6-2 demolition of the Phillies — but couldn't hold things together in the homestand finale, dropping a 4-5 gut-punch Sunday. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have been a disaster for two straight weeks. Toronto just absorbed a full 4-game sweep at home at the hands of the Rangers, the series finale decided on a wild pitch in the 9th that let the go-ahead run score without so much as a hit. Six straight losses, and now the Mets are rolling into town.
The injury reports for both clubs are a mess. New York is missing Marcus Semien (10-day IL), Jorge Polanco (60-day IL, Achilles), Luis Robert Jr. (60-day IL), Clay Holmes (60-day IL, fibula), and Tylor Megill (60-day IL, elbow). Toronto isn't any healthier — Anthony Santander (60-day IL, shoulder), Jesus Sanchez (10-day IL, ankle sprain), Addison Barger (10-day IL, elbow), Jose Berrios (60-day IL, Tommy John), and Max Scherzer (15-day IL, back) are all unavailable. Scherzer flew to Dallas last week for a cortisone shot with no timetable for return. These are two banged-up, depleted rosters trying to play meaningful baseball.
- 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.
- Day-To-DayRJ Schreck LF — Schreck (hand) has gone 2-for-8 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run in two games for Triple-A Buffalo since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Friday.
- Day-To-DayGeovanny Jesus Planchart C — no
- Day-To-DayChay Yeager RP — Yeager will undergo season-ending UCL surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- 10-Day-ILJesus Sanchez RF — The Blue Jays placed Sanchez on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right ankle sprain.
- 10-Day-ILAddison Barger RF — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Barger (elbow) will fly back to Toronto soon to be examined by the medical staff before potentially beginning a rehab assignment, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILLenyn Sosa 2B — Sosa (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment Monday with the Blue Jays' Arizona Complex League affiliate, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILMax Scherzer SP — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Scherzer (back) will travel to Dallas on Friday to get a cortisone shot to "help alleviate some left side stuff," Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- developmental listFernando Perez P
Toronto needs this one in the worst way. The Blue Jays are fighting for Wild Card position and letting a 35-49 Mets team push this losing streak to 7 would be a real body blow to whatever September hope they have left. Yesavage still carries the better ERA on the mound tonight, and pitching at home after a week like that could be the reset he needs. But the Mets under Green have shown they can score — 6 runs on the Phillies on Friday was not a fluke — and Manaea, when he's on, still eats innings. Something has to give between these 2 struggling rosters, and whoever blinks first in the middle frames is probably looking at an L by the final out.