NEW YORK -- The New York Mets can exhale during a day off in Cleveland after finally snapping a four-game losing streak.
When play resumes Friday, the Mets will face the Indians in an interleague series.
Bartolo Colon returns to his old stomping grounds to face right-hander Cody Anderson in the 7:10 p.m. ET series opener.
Colon originally was signed by the Indians back in 1993. He spent his first six major league seasons with that organization.
Colon will be making his second bid for career win No. 219, which would pull him even with Pedro Martinez for second on the all-time list among Dominican-born pitchers. Juan Marichal tops the list at 243.
THURSDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:
Terry Collins took snapping the Mets’ four-game losing streak pretty seriously. After Logan Verrett contributed six scoreless innings in a spot start for Jacob deGrom, Collins inserted Jim Henderson for the seventh despite the veteran righty having logged a career-high 34 pitches a day earlier. Henderson, who is finally back in the majors after overcoming a second shoulder surgery, proceeded to load the bases without recording an out. His fastball averaged only 90.8 miles per hour -- roughly 5 mph off his average for the season. Hansel Robles and Jerry Blevins combined to bail the Mets out of Henderson’s bases-loaded, no-out jam unscathed. The Mets went on to a 2-1 win thanks to a two-run single from Kevin Plawecki against Dustin McGowan in the seventh. It was Plawecki’s first hit of the season. Jeurys Familia allowed an inherited run to score, but recorded a five-out save. Familia had the extended workload despite working for a third straight day and recently battling an illness. Verrett became the third pitcher in franchise history to allow five or fewer hits in each of his first five career starts, joining deGrom (2014) and John Pacella (1979-80). Meanwhile, Wilmer Flores looked capable in his first major league game at first base. He initiated a 3-6-3 double play and also ranged to his right and fed the pitcher for an out. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Newsday, Record, Journal and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Columnist Mike Vaccaro in the Post labels it “borderline recklessness” that Henderson entered Wednesday’s game. Columnist David Lennon in Newsday suggests that an April 13 game should not have been treated as “a game we had to win” by Collins.
DeGrom is due to rejoin the team in Cleveland after the birth of his son, Anthony Jaxon, on Monday night. The Mets soon will determine whether deGrom’s troublesome right lat will allow him to throw a bullpen session in the American League ballpark. If deGrom is unable, he should land on the disabled list. Because of backdating, that would only prompt deGrom to miss one more turn beyond the start in which Verrett capably filled in Wednesday. DeGrom would be eligible to be activated April 24. Read more in Newsday and at MLB.com.
Josh Edgin made his second rehab appearance with Class A St. Lucie on Wednesday night. He allowed an inherited runner to score on a single, then retired the next two batters on pop-ups. He only required five pitches. The Mets estimate Edgin will be ready to return to the majors around May 1.
Yoenis Cespedes went flying into the stands down the left-field line in the eighth inning on Wednesday while trying to catch a foul ball. He then was struck on the elbow by a pitch a half-inning later. He remained in the game. Read more in the Post, Newsday and at MLB.com.
Columnist Joel Sherman in the Post believes the Washington Nationals will pose a serious threat to the Mets this season.
Rainy Lara tossed five scoreless innings and Kyle Johnson had two hits and scored twice in Binghamton’s 5-1 win against Harrisburg. Luis Guillorme’s two-run single capped a seven-run first inning and St. Lucie beat Dunedin, 7-2. Joe Tuschak delivered a tiebreaking RBI single to lift Columbia to a 3-2 win against Rome. Read the full minor-league recap here.
Read the latest on the up-for-auction jersey that Mike Piazza wore during the first game in New York City after 9/11 from Kevin Kernan in the Post as well as in the Daily News.
Read more on Flores’ day at first base at NJ.com.
From the bloggers ... Faith and Fear believes Panic City isn't zoned for small sample sizes. ... Mets Report believes Collins sounded like the mayor of Panic City.
BIRTHDAYS: Kyle Farnsworth turns 40. ... Mark Bomback is 63. ... Chase Huchingson is 27.
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YOU’RE UP: Did Collins hit the panic button Wednesday?
