NEW YORK -- How low will things go?
After getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Queens for the first time since 2002, the New York Mets now sit at .500 for the first time since April 20.
The Mets seemingly get a reprieve this weekend with the dismantled San Diego Padres, who underwent a fire sale, arriving at Citi Field. Then again, the D-backs are behind the Padres in the standings yet just beat the Mets in three straight games.
At 57-57, the Mets are out of division contention. The Washington Nationals are ahead by 10½ games.
A wild-card berth still is within reach, although the Mets have shown no indication they can put together the type of streak to compete for it. The Mets have not won back-to-back games since July 6-7.
The Mets are a full three games behind the Miami Marlins for the second wild-card spot, with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates sitting between the Mets and the Marlins.
After a fiery Terry Collins held a postgame team meeting Thursday, now would have been a perfect time to send an ace to the mound to halt the Mets' skid, which includes winning only four of their past 15 games. Instead, the Mets start Logan Verrett in Friday’s 7:10 p.m. ET series opener opposite right-hander Paul Clemens (1-2, 4.61 ERA).
Mets officials debated bouncing Verrett from the rotation after his last start, but ultimately decided he was the best matchup against the Padres. The alternatives included Jonathon Niese, Gabriel Ynoa and Rafael Montero. Verrett is 0-2 with a 5.61 ERA in six starts since taking over Matt Harvey's rotation spot.
Read the Mets-Padres series preview here.
FRIDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:
After the Mets were routed 9-0 by the lowly Diamondbacks on Thursday, Collins ranted for nearly four minutes to the media about needing the players to have "passion" and "play the game correctly." Collins threatened to bring up different players from Las Vegas if required. "Because in Las Vegas there is a whole clubhouse filled with guys that want to sit in this room," the manager said before storming off. Arizona swiped 13 bases during the sweep -- the most ever by a team against the Mets in a three-game series. Noah Syndergaard allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings. He is winless in his last six starts. Read recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Newsday, Record, Journal and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Columnist Joel Sherman in the Post writes about Collins' job security: "The indications I received were that Terry Collins was not in imminent peril and it was more likely than not that he would survive the season. He did manage the team to an NL title last year and he is well liked by ownership."
Jose Reyes went 0-for-1 with two walks, two stolen bases and a run scored in his first rehab game with Brooklyn. He logged five innings at third base and indicated his oblique felt fine. Reyes is expected to play shortstop for the Cyclones on Friday. Read more in Newsday.
St. Lucie committed four errors and walked eight batters in a 10-7 loss to Bradenton. Joe Shaw tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings in Columbia's 8-0 win against Greensboro. First-round pick Justin Dunn struck out six in three scoreless innings and Brooklyn beat Vermont, 7-4. Read the full minor-league recap here.
Read more on Verrett's upcoming start in Newsday.
The Mets host LGBT Pride Night on Saturday, Mark Newman writes at MLB.com.
From the bloggers ... Faith and Fear is feeling fairly morbid. ... Mets Report wonders if Collins' outburst is too little, too late.
BIRTHDAYS: Barry Manuel turns 51. .. Luis Carreno is 21. ... Trent Johnson is 20.
TWEET OF THE DAY:
"There's a lot of great things still going on with this team."
"The Arizona Diamondbacks played three amazing games."
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) August 11, 2016
YOU’RE UP: How responsible is Collins for the Mets' poor play?
