And there it is. Many of you wrote to me that Javier Baez would prove to be a “cancer.” Your diagnosis proved to be correct. I believed the addition of Baez would put the Mets over the top. Wrong again. Baez has been here for a couple of cups of coffee and has made more enemies in New York than Bobby Bonilla did in decades. Earlier this year Francisco Lindor ran down the tunnel so that he could see a New York rat. Now he shares the dugout with one.

That said, we almost bet the Amazin’s for Tuesday. Thumbs-down. Went with St. Louis instead. The Cards, a winning streak away from becoming a wild-card contender, are in Cincinnati. Injury-prone Miles Mikolas (0-1, 2.70 ERA) has made three starts this year, allowing four runs over 13 ¹/₃ innings. The Reds counter with Sonny Gray (6-6, 3.91 ERA). It’s been sunny-side up for Gray, tossing back-to-back shutouts over 13 innings. Taking the road ’dog Cards for 10 units.

Mo Motown misery. Josh Donaldson homered off Casey Mize and the Twinkies held on to tame the Tigers 3-2. Down -1,445 thumbnuts.