This is the opener of a three-game set at Coors, and it might be the most depressing 'somebody has to win' game on the Monday slate. New York is bleeding stars — Lindor in a boot, Senga shut down, Polanco week-to-week, Luis Robert Jr. on the IL, Mauricio's thumb just snapped — and they're rolling out a TBD. Colorado just got swept by an Atlanta team off to its best 35-game start since 1892. Two teams in different stages of the same nightmare.
The one reason to actually watch this is Tomoyuki Sugano. The 3-1, 2.84 ERA line isn't a typo, and it isn't smoke — he's already gone six and one earned at Coors against the Phillies and has the best ERA in the Rockies rotation outside of Dollander. A Japanese veteran quietly turning into Colorado's most reliable starter is a genuinely fun story buried under a 14-21 record.
On the other side, the Mets countering with TBD tells you everything about where the rotation is right now. Senga's back is barking, the back-end arms are getting torched, and Carlos Mendoza is publicly being told by David Stearns that the front office doesn't 'view this as a manager problem' — which is the kind of vote of confidence you never want to need. Juan Soto is back from the calf strain and trying to play diplomat for a clubhouse that just lost 12 in a row.
- Day-To-DayJoe Jacques RP — The Mets signed Jacques to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayNate Lavender RP — Lavender (elbow) cleared outright waivers Wednesday and was returned to the Mets.
- 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-ILJorge Polanco 1B — Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said last Friday that Polanco (wrist/Achilles) has resumed performing baseball activities but is considered week-to-week in his recovery from a pair of injuries, SNY.tv reports.
- 10-Day-ILJared Young 1B — The Mets placed Young on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Monday, due to a meniscus tear in his left knee.
- 10-Day-ILRonny Mauricio SS — The Mets placed Mauricio (thumb) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
- Day-To-DayBrayan Castillo RP — The Rockies announced Monday that Castillo is dealing with right lat tightness and has been shut down from throwing while undergoing treatment for the injury, TheDNVR.com reports.
- Day-To-DayCase Williams SP — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJared Thomas CF — The Rockies announced Monday that Thomas hasn't been participating in spring training while he recovers from offseason surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, TheDNVR.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILRyan Feltner SP — Feltner (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is likely to begin a rehab assignment shortly, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILRJ Petit RP — The Rockies transferred Petit (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILMcCade Brown SP — The Rockies transferred Brown (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
- 60-Day-ILPierson Ohl RP — The Rockies placed Ohl (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
- 60-Day-ILKris Bryant DH — Bryant said Tuesday that the ongoing pain in his back continues to prevent him from participating in baseball activities, though he's still consulting with doctors and trainers for potential rehab options, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The injury card down there is not a list, it's a hostage video. Lindor won't be re-evaluated for three weeks. Polanco is dealing with the wrist AND the Achilles. Mauricio fractured his thumb against the Angels on Saturday. Tauchman's done. That's a lineup held together with minor-league deals and prayer, now flying into altitude against a guy with a sub-3 ERA.
Pick your poison. The Rockies have been one of the worst teams in baseball and just got run out of their own building. The Mets have more functional position players in Syracuse than in Queens. If Sugano does Sugano things, this game gets ugly fast. If the TBD turns into a spot-starter who can't get out of the fourth, well — Coors plus a tired bullpen plus Mickey Moniak swinging it (two homers Sunday) is its own kind of disaster movie.