CHICAGO --
FIRST PITCH: Matt Harvey gets to attempt to be the stopper for the New York Mets on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
After Jacob deGrom and debuting Noah Syndergaard consecutively were handed losses by the Chicago Cubs, Harvey (5-1, 2.72 ERA) opposes right-hander Jason Hammel (3-1, 3.52) at 8:05 p.m. ET.
WEDNESDAY'S NEWS REPORTS:
Syndergaard took a scoreless effort into the sixth inning, but then surrendered a run-scoring double to Starlin Castro and two-run homer to Chris Coghlan as the Mets lost to the Cubs, 6-1, on Tuesday. Jake Arrieta held the Mets to one hit and faced the minimum through seven innings.
Syndergaard's pitch count was driven up in the third inning when third baseman Daniel Murphy underestimated the speed of rookie Kris Bryant and nonchalantly threw to first base on a would-be inning-ending grounder. The Cubs instead loaded the bases that frame before Syndergaard escaped unscathed, but with 18 extra pitches thrown.
"He did a really good job, I thought," Bryant said about Syndergaard. "A lot better than I did in my debut. I know him. He's a great guy."
Read columnist reviews of Syndergaard's major league debut, which was hindered by Murphy's miscue, from Ken Davidoff in the Post, John Harper in the Daily News and David Lennon in Newsday.
Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Times, Journal, Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says he expects to renew trade talks with the Mets, considering Chicago is well-stocked with young infielders and the Mets are deep in pitching. "We've had conversations with them," Hoyer said, via ESPNChicago.com. "We haven't made a deal yet, but there have been matches that made sense, and I'm sure we'll talk to them in the future."
Juan Lagares sat Tuesday because of what is being described as a "slight strain" in his right arm pit. Lagares originally suffered the injury last Tuesday on a diving catch in left-center, when he narrowly avoided Michael Cuddyer. Read more in the Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Agent Paul Cohen will discuss this week with client Troy Tulowitzki whether the Colorado Rockies' shortstop should request a trade, Joel Sherman writes in the Post.
David Wright continued to be sidelined from baseball activity Tuesday.
Reliever Buddy Carlyle may be DL-bound because of a lower-back issue. Read more at MLB.com.
Logan Verrett earned the win with four scoreless relief innings as Las Vegas beat Sacramento, 12-8. Rainy Lara tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings as Binghamton beat Richmond, 4-1. Akeel Morris recorded a five-out save and St. Lucie snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Tampa Yankees with a 12-6 victory. Read the full minor league recap here.
Manager Terry Collins now plans to bat the pitcher eighth relatively frequently.
Bobby Parnell and Vic Black are expected to join Triple-A Las Vegas and make their first rehab appearances with the Pacific Coast League club on Sunday.
From the bloggers ... Mets Report thinks the team's staff should be concerned with deGrom. ... Legends on Deck profiles Gavin Cecchini.
BIRTHDAYS: Bobby Valentine turns 65.
TWEET OF THE DAY:
@AdamRubinESPN Syndergaard may have been the advertisement but the METS offense was the TERMS AND CONDITIONS at the bottom of the page.
— Dionysios Anninos (@LORDV8R1) May 13, 2015YOU'RE UP: How can the Mets fix their offensive issues?
