About that buzzsaw: the Reds opened this series by dropping a 12-0 haymaker on New York Monday night. Eugenio Suárez hit 2 homers and drove in 6, including a 2nd-inning grand slam, and JJ Bleday tacked on a 3-run shot behind 5 innings and 7 strikeouts from Chase Burns. The Mets stranded 12 baserunners, went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and loaded the bases with 1 out in three separate innings without plating a run. That is its own kind of art form.
- Day-To-DayRyan Lambert (RP) — Triple-A Syracuse placed Lambert on the 7-day injured list June 4 due to an unspecified injury.06/16
- Day-To-DayMike Baumann (RP) — Baumann signed a minor-league deal with the Mets on Wednesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.06/15
- 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.06/01
- 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.05/18
- Day-To-DayJoe Jacques (RP) — The Mets signed Jacques to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 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.05/08
- 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.05/08
- 10-Day-ILRonny Mauricio (SS) — Mauricio (thumb) could begin a rehab assignment later this week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.06/15
- 10-Day-ILFrancisco Lindor (SS) — Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that he expects Lindor (calf) to return "this month," Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.06/12
- 10-Day-ILTyrone Taylor (CF) — Taylor (hip) began running this past week but has yet to resume full baseball activities, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.06/08
- 15-Day-ILKodai Senga (SP) — Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Senga (spine/arm) will start Tuesday's game in Cincinnati, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.06/15
- 15-Day-ILChristian Scott (SP) — The Mets placed Scott on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right hip impingement.06/15
- OutRobert Stock (RP) — Stock (shoulder) said Sunday that he'll require surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome and could be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJorge Polanco (1B) — An MRI on Polanco's left ankle/Achilles tendon came back negative Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.06/15
- 60-Day-ILLuis Robert Jr. (CF) — Robert (spine) said Thursday that his back has been responding better in recent days and he expects to return before the end of this season, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILClay Holmes (SP) — The Mets transferred Holmes (fibula) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/19
- 60-Day-ILReed Garrett (RP) — The Mets placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILDedniel Nunez (RP) — The Mets placed Nunez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJustin Hagenman (RP) — The Mets placed Hagenman on the 60-day injured list Saturday due to a rib fracture.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTylor Megill (SP) — The Mets placed Megill (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns (C) — no05/08
- 10-Day-ILElly De La Cruz (SS) — De La Cruz (hamstring) could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment this weekend at a yet-to-be-determined affiliate, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.06/15
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.05/22
- 15-Day-ILPierce Johnson (RP) — Johnson (elbow) is scheduled to face live hitters in a simulated game or batting practice Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/15
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan (RP) — Pagan (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is expected to throw another Monday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.06/15
- OutCarson Spiers (SP) — The Reds re-signed Spiers (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/14
- 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
The injury picture is the subplot. Francisco Lindor (calf) is targeting a return before the end of the month after taking live ABs and playing sim innings at short — David Stearns expects him back "this month." On the Cincinnati side, Elly De La Cruz is running the bases and could begin a rehab assignment this weekend, and Hunter Greene is slated to start his rehab Thursday in the Arizona Complex League with an eye on Louisville on June 23. Neither helps tonight, but both teams are basically auditioning bridge arms and bench bats until the cavalry shows up.
The shape of the game: a rusty Senga who hasn't faced live MLB hitters in 7 weeks against a Reds lineup that just figured out how to swing again, opposite a Singer who's quietly been getting hit hard all year (opponents are batting .311 off him) but is coming off his best start. Whoever blinks first loses, and the Mets are running 1-for-12 on stopping the bleeding.
Cincinnati is also 2-8 in their last 10 and still chasing their first series win of June, so a Reds team that just exhaled is being asked to do it again. That's the Mets' opening — if Senga can give them anything resembling 4 competent innings, the visitors are live. If he can't, this could get ugly twice in a row.