This is the matchup you get when an injured list runs 21 names deep. Thornton, a 5th-round pick in 2023, made 2 starts at Triple-A Syracuse (2.25 ERA, 13 punchouts in 12 innings) and now Carlos Mendoza is handing him the ball in a real big-league park against a Nationals lineup that doesn't strike out much. The Mets sit at 21-27 and limping; Washington is 24-25 and somehow the more stable roster in this game.
On the other side, Zack Littell has been the punching bag of the Washington rotation — but quietly the numbers have started to turn. He went 5 scoreless on May 15 against Baltimore in his first true start back from the opener experiment, and over his last 4 outings he's running a 1.75 ERA. The 6.10 season ERA is the residue of a brutal April that included getting torched by these same Mets on April 28. If the version from the last two weeks shows up, this rotation slot is no longer the giveaway it used to be.
The market still respects the laundry. Mets are favored on the moneyline and giving a run-and-a-half at DK despite trotting out a guy who has never thrown a big-league pitch, which tells you what oddsmakers think of Washington's lineup against any arm with a pulse. The total split is the interesting one — Pinnacle posts 9.5, DK has it down at 8.5 — and 63% of DK tickets are sitting on the Over. Make of that what you will when one starter has a 0.00 career ERA because he hasn't pitched yet.
- 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-DayGrae Kessinger 3B — no
- 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-DayNick Burdi RP — The Red Sox reinstated Burdi (hip) from the injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester.
- 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.
- 10-Day-ILJared Young 1B — Young (knee) will move his rehab assignment from Single-A St. Lucie to Triple-A Syracuse this week, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILFrancisco Lindor SS — The Mets "have hope" that Lindor (calf) will return to the active roster in about a month, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
- Day-To-DayJacob Young CF — Young (rib) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Mets.
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum DH — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.
- Day-To-DayTravis Sykora SP — Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
- Day-To-DayJarlin Susana RP — Susana underwent surgery last week to repair a right lat tear, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
- 15-Day-ILClayton Beeter RP — Beeter (forearm) threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one.
- 15-Day-ILCole Henry RP — Henry (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester this weekend, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILMax Kranick RP — The Nationals signed Kranick (elbow) to a one-year, $800,000 contract Tuesday and placed him on the 15-day injured list.
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz SP — Herz (elbow) will throw to live hitters Friday at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
The Mets' injury list reads like a depth chart. Lindor (calf) is about a month away, Alvarez had meniscus surgery and is out 8 weeks, Polanco is traveling but not playing, Senga just got back to live BP, and Holmes — the reason Thornton is here — got transferred to the 60-day. Washington isn't whole either with Jacob Young (rib) out and the rotation missing Herz, Williams, and Gray, but compared to the New York field hospital it's a paper cut. This is the kind of game where the Nats should be favored on talent on the field, not the talent on the IL list.
The pick here is patience. A debuting lefty against a team that's seen him on tape for exactly zero innings should get the first turn through the order on vibes alone — the question is what happens the second time James Wood and CJ Abrams see his stuff. If Littell keeps the recent run going and the Mets bullpen has to cover 4-plus innings with Holmes, Minter, Garrett, and Nunez all on the shelf, this is exactly the spot where the underdog cashes.