Sunday's series finale lands at 7:20 PM ET under the Sunday Night Baseball lights, and the pitching ledger is doing the Phillies a lot of favors. Philadelphia is lining up Zack Wheeler, who carried a 2.01 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP into June, while the Mets are still sorting out who can even hold the ball after a brutal stretch of rotation injuries.
The vibe around the two clubhouses could not be more different right now. The Phillies just dropped a 4-12 stinker to the Marlins on Wednesday, but they had won 3 of 4 before that and are coming off a 7-0 shutout and an 8-2 stomping at home. The Mets stumbled into Cincinnati and got outscored 18-12 in a series they salvaged with a 9-1 finale, but they've still lost 3 of their last 5 and are 8 games under .500.
The injury list is doing most of the talking for the Mets. Francisco Lindor is finally inching back — he played 3 innings in a simulated game Friday and could start a rehab assignment Monday — but he won't be in the lineup at Citizens Bank Park. Jorge Polanco is on the 60-day, Tyrone Taylor is still on the 10-day, and the rotation has been gutted by Christian Scott's hip impingement, Clay Holmes' fibula, and Tylor Megill's elbow. Kodai Senga's return last week was a disaster — 4 walks and 4 runs across 4 innings against the Reds, including back-to-back homers in the first.
- 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-DayAndrew Walling RP
- Day-To-DayCarson DeMartini SS
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert RP — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary C — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrad Keller RP — Keller picked up the save Wednesday against the Athletics, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
- 15-Day-ILKyle Backhus RP — Backhus (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
- 60-Day-ILAdolis Garcia RF — Garcia was removed from Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to a pulled muscle near his right shoulder, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
- OutJohan Rojas CF — Rojas (suspension) will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a right elbow UCL tear that will require an internal brace procedure.
Philadelphia has its own dings — Adolis Garcia is on the 60-day and Johan Rojas is done for the year — but the core that matters Sunday is fine. The lineup behind Wheeler still runs through Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, and the bullpen has been workable even with Brad Keller on the 15-day. The Phils are 6 games over .500 and have the better team, the better starter, and home field for the finale of a 4-game set.
Stylistically this is the worst possible draw for New York. The Mets are short-handed offensively, leaning on a banged-up lineup with no Lindor and no Polanco, and now they get Wheeler at home on a Sunday night. The Phillies have plenty of motivation too — they swept-or-die against Miami didn't go their way, and they'd love to close out a 4-game series win heading into the next homestand.