The Reds (27-25) are in Flushing for a Sunday matinee against a 22-31 Mets team that has lost 3 of its last 5 and is somehow holding the NL East together with athletic tape. Cincinnati just took a series in Philly to claw out of an ugly 6-13 May, so the vibes are at least trending up before first pitch.
The Mets' injury list reads like a depth chart. Lindor (calf) is a month away. Alvarez had meniscus surgery and is gone 8 weeks. Polanco, Jared Young, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga — all on the shelf. Juan Soto was scratched from Sunday's finale in Miami after falling ill, so even the one healthy superstar is a question mark when the lineup card gets posted.
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns C — no
- Day-To-DayJosh Staumont RP — The Twins reinstated Staumont (calf) from the 15-day injured list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes 3B — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
- 10-Day-ILJose Trevino C — Trevino is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
- 15-Day-ILRhett Lowder SP — Lowder (shoulder) is expected to face hitters early next week, Charlie Goldsmith of of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan RP — Pagan (hamstring) is throwing from his knees in order to keep throwing while not putting stress on his strained hamstring, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene SP — Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session May 26, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson SP — The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
- Day-To-DayJuan Soto LF — Soto was scratched from the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Marlins after falling ill, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
- 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-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-ILJared Young 1B — Young (knee) will move his rehab assignment from Single-A St. Lucie to Triple-A Syracuse this week, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
On the bump it's Nick Lodolo for Cincinnati, finally getting rolling after a blister delayed his season. The 7.20 ERA is loud but it's a small sample of a guy who put up a 3.33 across 156.2 innings last year. He's the Reds' No. 2 starter for a reason. Nolan McLean counters at 2-3, 3.57, but he's coming off the worst start of his career — 6 earned in 5.2 against the Nationals after a shaky one against Detroit before that.
Pinnacle has the Mets at -151 with the total sitting at 7.5. Given the state of the New York lineup and a young starter trying to right the ship, that price feels like it's leaning heavily on Citi Field and McLean's track record rather than what either team looks like right now. The Reds at +136 is the kind of number that exists when the market isn't quite ready to admit the home team is bad.
Bottom line: if Lodolo's command is back, this is the type of spot where the Reds steal one. If it isn't, McLean bounces back against a Mets-friendly script and the under cashes. Either way, a Mets lineup minus Lindor, Alvarez, Polanco and maybe Soto isn't scaring anybody — including a Cincinnati staff that's been hanging on for dear life.