First pitch is 8:40 PM CT (6:40 PM PT) at Petco Park, and the pitching card tells the real story of this opener. Christian Scott (1-0, 2.97) gets the ball for New York coming off 5 innings of 1-run, 8-strikeout work against Miami on May 30. Michael King (4-4, 3.18) goes for San Diego, but his last time out was a clunker — 5 earned in 6 against the Nationals on the road trip from hell.
The Padres are 1-9 in their last 10 and sit 8 back of the Dodgers after getting swept by Philadelphia for the second time this season. They're 32-29 and still hanging around the wild-card picture, but the bats went cold in a hurry — they scored 2 runs in three straight losses to the Phillies before mustering 4 in Thursday's finale. That's the team Carlos Mendoza's group catches at home tonight.
The Mets aren't exactly a juggernaut at 27-35, but they took 2 of 3 in Seattle to close out the trip and are getting healthier by the day. Francisco Alvarez is set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse, Jorge Polanco already homered in a rehab game at Double-A Binghamton, and Francisco Lindor has begun a running progression. Kodai Senga is on the third start of his own rehab. None of them help tonight, but the calvary is moving.
- 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-DayAdbert Alzolay RP — The Mets reassigned Alzolay to minor-league camp Tuesday.
- 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-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-ILFrancisco Alvarez C — Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Alvarez (knee) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
- Day-To-DayBlake Hunt C — Hunt is dealing with an oblique injury and has been shut down from activity, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
- 7-Day ILJake Cronenworth 2B — Cronenworth (concussion) has been running, playing catch and taking light swings in the batting cage, but he remains without a definitive timetable for a return, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union Tribune reports.
- 10-Day-ILRamon Laureano LF — The Padres placed Laureano on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 31, due to right hip inflammation.
- 10-Day-ILLuis Campusano C — Campusano (toe) has been catching bullpens and is swinging pain-free, per MLB.com.
- 15-Day-ILGerman Marquez SP — Marquez (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
- 15-Day-ILMatt Waldron SP — Waldron (forearm) could take on a bullpen role when he returns from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILNick Pivetta SP — The Padres transferred Pivetta (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
- 60-Day-ILJhony Brito RP — Brito (forearm) struck out four batters and allowed one hit and no walks over six shutout innings Friday in a rehab start for Double-A San Antonio.
San Diego's injury sheet is uglier than people realize. Yu Darvish (elbow) is just getting back to playing catch, Joe Musgrove is targeting a post-All-Star return, Nick Pivetta got moved to the 60-day, and German Marquez and Matt Waldron are both shelved. Throw in Jake Cronenworth (concussion) and Ramon Laureano (hip) and you've got a contender held together with tape behind King.
Pinnacle has the Padres at -131 with a total of 7.5, and that line feels like a market still pricing San Diego on April reputation rather than the team currently in free-fall. Scott has been the Mets' best starter this year and he's facing a lineup missing one of its best contact bats. If the Mets are ever going to steal a series at Petco, this is the spot — the door is wide open in the opener.