Category: Sports News

With the Mets starting a three-game series with the San Diego Padres on Friday night, manager Carlos Mendoza gave updates on some of his injured players.

No Jorge Polanco in San Diego

When New York began this six-game West Coast road trip on Monday, the thought was that Polanco would be ready to re-join the team when it arrived in San Diego to play the Padres. However, that day has arrived and Polanco remains on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse.

"He’s playing right now. He’s DHing in Syracuse," Mendoza said. "We just felt like he needed to get volume there. Last game he only played four-to-five innings of defense. We gotta get him to a point where [he gets] four at-bats as a DH or seven innings of defense, at least. So we won’t see him here in San Diego."

While Polanco still needs more time, Mendoza is encouraged with how he has progressed during his rehab.

"The way he’s taking his swings, the way he’s rotating, he looks more healthy," the skipper said. "When you look at the way he’s rotating and standing on that back leg, which was something that we didn’t see before he went on the IL. When we were playing the Dodgers [in late April] you could see it was affecting him. But right now he looks in a better place with the way he’s taking his swings."

Polanco went 0-for-2 with two walks as Syracuse was no-hit by Brendan Beck (7 IP) and Carson Coleman (2 IP) of the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre RailRiders.

Goal for Francisco Alvarez

Along with Polanco, Alvarez is also in Friday's starting lineup with Triple-A, his third rehab appearance since recovering from a meniscus tear in his right knee on May 13.

Originally scheduled to be out for six-to-eight weeks, Alvarez is blowing past that number and is already in contention to return from the IL when the Mets return home on Tuesday for a six-game homestand.

"Alvy’s catching right now," Mendoza said. "The goal is for him to get I think seven [innings] today. He’s gonna go back-to-back [tomorrow]. So the goal, if everything goes well there, is to have him on the next homestand."

The skipper didn't specify exactly when during New York's homestand, but it stands to reason Alvarez could be back for the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals which would put his recovery timeline at less than a month.

Alvarez went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before getting pulled for Kevin Parada.

Odds and ends

Ronny Mauricio (fractured thumb) has started running, but has yet to begin hitting.

Tyrone Taylor (right hip) started running yesterday.

Mets lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Bo Bichette – SS
3. Juan Soto – LF
4. Jared Young – 1B
5. A.J. Ewing – CF
6. Marcus Semien – 2B
7. Brett Baty – 3B
8. MJ Melendez – DH
9. Luis Torrens – C

SP: Christian Scott – RHP

Padres lineup

1. Fernando Tatis – RF
2. Gavin Sheets – DH
3. Manny Machado – 3B
4. Ty France – 1B
5. Jackson Merrill – CF
6. Xander Bogaerts – SS
7. Bryce Johnson – LF
8. Sung-Mun Song – 2B
9. Rodolfo Duran – C

SP: Michael King – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 9:40 PM ET
TV: WPIX
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

New York Mets (27-35) at San Diego Padres (32-29), June 5, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
• Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
• Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads

Discuss below!

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

With every team in action, we're going back to the well with MLB moneyline predictions on Saturday, June 6.

There are only a couple of lopsided favorites on the slate, so our MLB picks are balancing between some obvious choices and a few underdogs to get the job done, including the Chicago White Sox as they step in against Philadelphia Phillies SP Andrew Painter.

MLB moneyline picks for June 6

Matchup	Pick
Mariners vs Tigers	-127
Royals vs Twins	-127
Reds vs Cardinals	+117
Giants vs Cubs	-133
Orioles vs Blue Jays	+108
White Sox vs Phillies	+117
Pirates vs Braves	-122
Rays vs Marlins	-133
Athletics vs Astros	+113
Nationals vs Diamondbacks	-150
Red Sox vs Yankees	+117
Guardians vs Rangers	-104
Brewers vs Rockies	-233
Angels vs Dodgers	-257
Mets vs Padres	-104

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-5.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 6

Mariners vs Tigers: Mariners (-127)

Mariners win probability: 56%

The Detroit Tigers seem to have righted a ship a bit, but the Seattle Mariners have been far superior, with a slightly misleading 33-30 record entering Friday. Their Pythagorean record is two wins better, and they have the second-best run differential in the American League.

Royals vs Twins: Twins (-127)

Twins win probability: 56%

Along with the Tigers, the Kansas City Royals are baseball's most disappointing team. Despite Bobby Witt Jr. doing everything in his power to lift the team out of the AL Central cellar, KC remains 10.5 games back in the division.

It's not as if the Minnesota Twins are world-beaters, likely punching above their weight class, but Joe Ryan offers them their best shot at picking up a win whenever he takes the mound, and the same can't be said for Royals righty Luinder Avila.

Reds vs Cardinals: Reds (+117)

Reds win probability: 46%

The Cincinnati Reds have not gotten much out of their rotation this year, but as Nick Lodolo continues to get stronger as he gets further away from a blister issue, I like their chances opposite the St. Louis Cardinals and fellow lefty Matthew Liberatore.

The Reds are fourth in MLB with 23rd home runs vs. left-handed pitchers, thanks to Spencer Steer, Elly De La Cruz, and Sal Stewart, and Liberatore has been snake-bitten by 10 homers in just 62 innings.

Giants vs Cubs: Cubs (-133)

Cubs win probability: 56%

I'd be tempted to take the underdog San Francisco Giants here if I were confident in Landen Roupp's health entering play. He dealt with back discomfort in his most recent outing, when he was rocked for eight runs on eight hits and five walks over four innings.

He felt good after a bullpen session, but I'll fade the punchless Giants offense against Chicago Cubs righty Ben Brown in tandem with uncertainty about Roupp.

Orioles vs Blue Jays: Orioles (+108)

Orioles win probability: 47%

The Toronto Blue Jays haven't announced a starter, but we know that it won't be Trey Yesavage (pitching Friday), Kevin Gausman (pitching Sunday), or Dylan Cease (still injured).

Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish has seemingly turned a corner from his early-season struggles, allowing two runs or fewer in four straight starts, including an excellent seven-inning performance against Toronto last time out.

White Sox vs Phillies: White Sox (+117)

White Sox win probability: 46%

I'm fading Philadelphia Phillies rookie Andrew Painter until he can show more consistency on the mound. Even with Munetaka Murakami sidelined, the Chicago White Sox have continued to win, going 7-3 in their last 10 entering Friday.

Painter has surrendered nine home runs in 53 1/3 innings, and Murakami's absence won't kneecap Chicago's power profile, as Colson Montgomery, Andrew Benintendi, and Miguel Vargas have combined to hit 25 home runs off right-handed pitching this season.

Pirates vs Braves: Braves (-122)

Braves win probability: 55%

The Atlanta Braves need to be considerably shorter, probably around -150, before I consider fading them in this matchup.

That's not to shade Pittsburgh Pirates starter Braxton Aschcraft, who's making it clear that prospect hounds maybe should have propped him up over Bubba Chandler in that system, but I am favoring a) the best offense in baseball and b) Spencer Strider, who has an easier task ahead of him, even if Ashcraft has been better/comparable in 2026.

Rays vs Marlins: Rays (-133)

Rays win probability: 56%

Shane McClanahan has allowed one or zero runs in six of his last seven starts. The Tampa Bay Rays lefty doesn't pitch deep into his starts (finishing the sixth only once in that span), but he's found success by limiting home runs.

The Miami Marlins are terrible against lefties, but they also aren't showcasing a ton of over-the-fence pop in those matchups, either. 

A's vs Astros: A's (+113)

A's win probability: 47%

Even if Tatsuya Imai has emerged through the fog of his early-season struggles, he still doesn't inspire much confidence.

This pick isn't exactly an endorsement of A's starter Kade Morris, who's making his MLB debut, though. He doesn't miss bats and has back-end rotation innings-eater written all over him. But if Nick Kurtz and the offense can show off some patience, they can chase Imai early en route to a high-scoring win.

I'd rather take the better number with the underdog here. 

Nationals vs Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks (-150)

Diamondbacks win probability: 60%

The Washington Nationals have arguably the best offense in baseball. They also have the dirt-worst pitching staff. While taking them at +144 is certainly tempting, Zack Littell is simply not a starter with whom I wish to put my confidence.

He ranks in the 15th percentile or worse in xERA, xBA, fastball velocity, average exit velocity, whiff rate, strikeout rate, barrell rate, hard-hit rate, and ground ball rate. Basically, he throws very hittable pitches in the zone that opponents are taking advantage of.

If anything, he's fortunate that his 5.01 ERA isn't a fair bit higher.

Red Sox vs Yankees: Red Sox (+117)

Red Sox win probability: 46%

Aaron Judge's absence looms large, and Will Warren comes back down to earth as the Boston Red Sox take one from the New York Yankees in the Bronx.

Ranger Suarez toeing the rubber also helps, as I don't have as much confidence in New York's lineup vs. lefties without Judge.

Guardians vs Rangers: Guardians (-104)

Guardians win probability: 51%

The Cleveland Guardians entered play on Friday at 36-28, leading the AL Central. Tanner Bibee is 0-7. Go figure. That will not last forever, even if he's been middling at best.

I like Cleveland's bats against Texas Rangers righty Jack Leiter enough to back Bibee & Co.

Brewers vs Rockies: Brewers (-233)

Brewers win probability: 70%

Maybe Jacob Misiorowski falls victim to Coors Field here, but sometimes you can't just roll the dice on maybes.

The Colorado Rockies strike out fourth-most in MLB, and no one punches people out quite like The Miz. 

Angels vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-257)

Dodgers win probability: 72%

The Los Angeles Angels remain pathetic. They have the worst record in baseball and don't deserve our endorsement, especially against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

Mets vs Padres: Mets (-104)

Mets win probability: 51%

Yeah, I know, Nolan McLean hit the skids a bit recently, but most of his struggles can be boiled down to two starts where he allowed 16 runs (13 earned) over nine innings.

Because they came in back-to-back appearances, the warning bells may have sounded a little louder than they otherwise might have.

The New York Mets aren't good, but the San Diego Padres are struggling hard, and Griffin Canning can't get anyone out.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Aaron Judge has a stress fracture in his top right rib. He will undergo imaging on the area in four to six weeks. When imaging shows the bone has healed, Judge can restart baseball activities. The Yankees expect he will return this year. Simple. Straightforward. Entirely uncomplicated.

And yet, nothing about the way the Yankees came to this conclusion – which they announced late Thursday night in an uncharacteristic update emailed to media – was simple or straightforward. Friday, after days of waiting for specialists fueled the kind of speculation they would normally try to avoid, Judge, manager Aaron Boone, and GM Brian Cashman did their best to explain how they got here.

Judge came first, explaining to reporters that he believes he first suffered an injury while diving and trying to avoid Jazz Chisholm Jr. during an April 26 game in Houston. He said he played through the injury in the weeks since then, and that he was able to do so well enough that he felt no need to inform Boone that anything was bothering him beyond normal in-season wear and tear.

Judge’s numbers – an .805 OPS in May with a .194 ISO, both of which are drastically below his career norms – suggested the injury was affecting his play. And Boone admitted later that in hindsight, those effects were obvious, even though the problem causing them did not become so until last weekend in the Yankees’ series against the Athletics.

“I noticed it getting worse by Sacramento. Like, I noticed it,” Boone said. “And that’s when I kind of first said something to him. And I got him out of the game. So it’s tough to say whether it’s something that worsened over the weeks. I think there was that couple week stretch leading up to the other day where it was affecting him a little bit.”

Judge said Friday that by last weekend, he was limiting his swings before the game and his swings during the game were clearly compromised.

“I was kind of feeling the symptoms the past month, and we kind of did everything we could to make sure we could be out there,” Judge said. “Sacramento just kind of got worse. Fought it as long as I could.”

Cashman, meanwhile, said he did not know anything was wrong until Monday, when trainer Mike Schuk called with an unexpected message: Judge’s shoulder was hurting and needed imaging. He admitted he was “caught off guard” by the call, because until that point, Judge had not put the injury on anyone’s radar.

“We turn the clock back and try to figure out, did it happen on this play or that play. I do remember the play in Houston. That dive, along with a couple of collisions with walls along the way as well as diving plays thereafter,” Cashman said. “… Speculatively, that was a traumatic play. But none of the shared feelings from [Judge] at that time leveled up to anything. So in terms of us having any action items to deal with, it really didn’t occur until after the Sacramento series.”

Once the problem did become an action item, Cashman said, Yankees doctor Christopher Ahmad expressed concerns about the initial diagnosis of a bone bruise in the front of Judge’s shoulder. Ahmad knew Judge had injured a rib in a similar place in 2020, so he recommended the Yankees rule out some kind of correlation.

“Intuition was telling him to dig even deeper,” Cashman said.

So Judge underwent more testing and the Yankees consulted Dr. Gregory Pearl, a rib specialist, in Texas. Pearl’s website says he “has made significant contributions to vascular surgery education and clinical practice, particularly in complex vascular procedures and thoracic outlet syndrome management in high-performance athletes.”

That information naturally fueled speculation that Judge might be dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome, which players often describe as feeling in their shoulder even though the issue is not orthopedic. Compared to thoracic outlet syndrome, a mere stress fracture of his rib felt like it would be a relief. But Judge said thoracic outlet syndrome was never something he or the Yankees were worried about.

“I don’t think thoracic was ever involved in this at all. You go to a specialist who is a rib specialist just to see, take a look at this. I don’t know where thoracic got thrown around. It was never thoracic outlet. I don’t know where that came from,” Judge said. “But yeah, I think the worst thing I had in my eyes was a fractured rib, which is what we got.”

As for what comes next, both Cashman and Boone said they are intentionally avoiding identifying a target date for Judge’s return.

“We just have to let the thing heal,” Cashman said. Boone added that as soon as imaging shows the bone is healed, Judge will be able to start ramping back up. Judge, meanwhile, would not touch questions about when he might return.

“I don’t like talking timetables,” he said. “That stuff’s all made up.”

Even so, the Yankees do seem to have a few mile markers in mind when considering his return. First of all, they expect him back this year. When asked if there is a situation in which Judge might not return this year, Boone could cite only existential reasons.

“None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so there’s always a scenario, he said. “The expectation is that he will be.”

The Yankees are so confident that Judge will return, in fact, that Cashman admitted he is not planning to add anything new to his trade deadline wishlist because of the injury.

“I guess it’s a good question because it’s something I didn’t consider,” Cashman said. “But if we expect him back, which we do, I don’t see why now would impact something for the deadline. We just have to hold the fort.”

Still, when the dust around the diagnosis settled, the consensus seemed to be that Judge’s injury is worse than they had feared, but not necessarily catastrophic. Judge said he was “very disappointed.” Cashman admitted he hoped the problem would be fixed with a minimum injured list stint and would be “less severe.” But both pointed to the Yankees stalwart starting rotation and the emergence of Ben Rice – who homered in his first at-bat after Judge was put on the injured list Friday – as reasons to believe they can survive without him.

“We’ve got a good club regardless,” Cashman said. “It’s obviously not as good without Aaron Judge, but still good enough.”

For the second game in a row, the Royals won with ninth-inning runs. Tonight, perhaps they can make things a little bit easier on those of us who already suffer from various heart, blood pressure, or anxiety diseases.

Michael Wacha will take the mound for KC. His last start, against Texas, didn’t go so great. He allowed 6 runs in only 5 innings. He didn’t face the Twins in their earlier series this year, but he faced them three times last year. Unfortunately, those numbers weren’t great, either. He pitched a total of 16 innings and allowed 7 runs with 6 walks and only 10 strikeouts. His final start wasn’t bad, though, allowing only a single run in 5.2 innings.

He will be countered by Zebby Matthews of the Twins. Zebby has a career 5.71 ERA, and he’s having his best big league season yet with a 4.63 ERA, though he’s giving up almost 2 home runs per 9 innings. He spent the beginning of the season in the minors, but returned to the bigs in May and will be making his sixth start tonight.

Zebby throws six pitches, and 5 of them at least 8% of the time. It all comes down to his slider, though, the only truly effective pitch he has to offer. That single pitch has a 41.7% chase rate and 41% whiff rate, both of which are elite. Oddly, he still chooses to throw it only 18.1% of the time, but throws his four-seam fastball more than twice as often at 39.9% of the time. The fastball is almost never missed when swung at, and it can get hit hard. So the Royals should probably be focusing there.

Lineups

The Royals will continue using Carter Jensen in the leadoff spot. He hasn’t been particularly good there, but the team has actually been scoring runs since the adjustment was made. Maikel Garcia is still out of the starting lineup. He pinch hit last night, but didn’t look great doing it and once he took the walk, he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner.

As for the Twins, they have a lineup full of nobodies and Royal killers. Byron Buxton is good against everyone but saves some of his best work for KC. Kody Clemens has hit more than 1/5 of his career home runs against KC including two last night. Luke Keaschall looked like he was going to be a super star late last summer against KC but has been something less than mediocre to start the year. Austin Martin would be a below-average hitter if he hadn’t been able face the Royals a few times.

Still, when your lineup has Orlando Arcia batting fifth, it’s not a good lineup. Hopefully Michael Wacha will make it look just that easy tonight.