Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that Mets starter Taijuan Walker played catch today and says he will only pitch on Sunday if he is at 100 percent. Walker left Tuesday night’s game due to back spasms and a MRI revealed that he has a slight bulging disc in his back.

Jacob deGrom and the Mets took the field in the series finale against Max Fried and the Atlanta Braves but fell short Thursday, as the Mets dropped the contest 3-2 and lost their third game of the four-game series. The Mets leave Atlanta and head to Philadelphia with a 3.5 game lead in the NL East. For more, check out our game recap.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

Featuring a piece for Bruce Bolt US, retired sportswriter Ken Davidoff spoke with Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo on how he came to love the game of baseball and how he almost gave up his dream had the Mets not called him up in 2016.

Latest MLB News

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols hits career home run number 690, which was a pinch hit grand slam.

Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com profiles former prospect D.J. Peterson and how he overcame a career altering hit by pitch and his current journey of making it to the major leagues.

JJ Cooper of Baseball America released his updated MLB Midseason Organizational Talent Rankings list.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post notes that the Atlanta Braves have opened contract negotiations with shortstop Dansby Swanson. Heyman also notes that the Los Angeles Dodgers could have matched the San Diego Padres’ offer for Juan Soto, but felt the price became too high.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer released his updated Top 30 Prospects List.

On This Date in Mets History

1957: The New York Giants made their move to San Francisco official as the team’s board of directors voted 8-1 in favor of relocation. The lone board member to cast a dissenting ballot was minority shareholder M. Donald Grant. Grant and fellow owner Joan Whitney Payson would later sell their stock in the Giants and collaborate with William Shea to bring the National League back to New York in the New York Mets.

Birthdays: Chris Capuano (43), Jeff Tam (51), Matt Franco (52), Ron Darling (61), Mike Phillips (71)