Cincinnati was 13-26 since May 1 entering this series and hadn't won back-to-back games since late May, also against the Mets. They've now done it twice over, with Sal Stewart's 3-run shot in the first inning Tuesday flipping the game before New York's bats woke up. Whatever was broken in Cincinnati for a month, the Mets seem to be fixing it.
The injury news isn't doing the Mets any favors either. Francisco Lindor (calf) is still working back through a sim game, Jorge Polanco is on the 60-day, and Christian Scott just hit the 15-day with a hip impingement. The Reds, for their part, are without Elly De La Cruz (hamstring), Hunter Greene, and Ke'Bryan Hayes, but they're the ones playing like the healthier team right now.
- 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-ILFrancisco Lindor (SS) — Lindor (calf) played three innings in a simulated game Friday, and he could begin an official rehab assignment Monday, MLB.com reports.06/16
- 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-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-ILChristian Scott (SP) — The Mets placed Scott on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right hip impingement.06/15
- 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) is scheduled to begin running Tuesday and Wednesday, and he will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Gwinnett, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.06/16
- 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
Lodolo's 5.21 ERA is louder than the stuff has actually looked — he went 5.1 innings of 2-run ball against Arizona in his last start with only 1 walk. Against a Mets lineup missing Lindor and Polanco, sitting on a 0-for-the-series shutout from Monday, a lefty who's pounding the zone is exactly the wrong matchup. If McLean walks the leadoff man in the first, this thing tilts fast.
Sweep or no sweep, the Mets at 32-41 are a team that needs to figure out who they are before the deadline. A noon getaway day in Cincinnati against a starter with a 5-handle ERA is a tone-setter game. Lose this one and they're flying home having been outscored by double digits in 3 days.