New York is 13-22 and the roster reads like a hospital ward, but somehow they've dragged themselves into Denver and are 3-2 over their last 5. The Rockies, meanwhile, are 14-22 and still searching for any sign of life — they haven't won a game in their last 5 tries. If there was ever a soft landing for a banged-up Mets team, this is it.
Peralta (1-3, 3.52) draws a fun little rematch here. His last start was actually against this same Rockies club, where he went 5.2 innings, struck out 8, and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. He took the loss because the Mets refuse to score for him — he hasn't allowed more than 3 earned runs in a start since his Mets debut and somehow sits 0-3 in that stretch. The bigger issue is the sixth inning. He's only gotten there once in 6 starts, and Coors Field is exactly the wrong place to be hunting length.
Michael Lorenzen and his 6.09 ERA are the counterweight. A right-hander with command issues at altitude is the kind of matchup the Mets lineup, even without Lindor and Polanco, can target. The market agrees — Peralta and the Mets are the chalk on the road at -157, with a run line of -1.5 priced like a coin flip and a total parked at 9.5.
The injury list is the elephant. Lindor is in a boot for at least 3 weeks. Senga is on the 15-day with lumbar spine inflammation. Polanco is week-to-week. Luis Robert Jr. just got shelved with a back issue. Mauricio fractured his thumb on Saturday. That's the spine of a contender stuck on the IL, and the Mets are still finding ways to win games like Monday's 4-2.
- Day-To-DayJose Rojas 3B — The Mets signed Rojas to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayNick Burdi RP — The Mets reassigned Burdi to minor-league camp Tuesday.
- 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-DayNate Lavender RP — Lavender (elbow) cleared outright waivers Wednesday and was returned to the Mets.
- 10-Day-ILRonny Mauricio SS — Mauricio suffered a fractured left thumb in Saturday's loss to the Angels and will be placed on the 10-day injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com 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-ILLuis Robert Jr. CF — The Mets are expected to place Robert (back) on the 10-day injured list, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv 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-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-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) is slated to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
- 60-Day-ILJeff Criswell RP — Criswell (elbow) made the second appearance of his rehab assignment with High-A Spokane on Sunday, striking out two over a perfect inning.
- 60-Day-ILMcCade Brown SP — The Rockies placed Brown (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
- 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-ILPierson Ohl RP — The Rockies placed Ohl (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
The path is straightforward. Get to Lorenzen early, ride Peralta into the 6th, and let the bullpen close out a Rockies offense that has scored a grand total of nothing meaningful during this skid. If New York can't put a foot on Colorado tonight, that says more about the Mets than the Rockies.