NEW YORK -- So much for that team meeting inspiring a victory for the New York Mets, although Terry Collins was pleased with the team’s “energy” and “passion” after falling in a substantial early hole Friday.
A day after getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks and having a postgame powwow, the Mets’ losing streak reached four games with a series-opening loss to the San Diego Padres.
For the first time since April 17, the Mets (57-58) are below .500. It actually marks the first time in 22 years that both World Series representatives from the previous postseason have losing records on this date.
Jacob deGrom, one of the team’s few bright spots, tries to get the Mets on track Saturday. DeGrom (7-5, 2.35 ERA) opposes right-hander Jarred Cosart (0-1, 5.79) at 7:10 p.m. ET.
DeGrom is 4-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his last eight starts.
It’s Pride Night at Citi Field, which the Mets are billing as the first-ever such event in New York City by a team from a major sports league. There’s also a postgame Styx concert!
SATURDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:
Logan Verrett's time in the rotation is over. Collins expects that Jonathon Niese will take Verrett’s rotation spot Wednesday at Arizona, provided Niese’s cranky left knee is OK. Niese had the knee drained while still with the Pittsburgh Pirates. It recently has flared up with more frequent use out of the bullpen. Verrett served up four homers and allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings as the Padres beat the Mets, 8-6, Friday. Mets relievers Seth Lugo, Erik Goeddel and Hansel Robles combined to retire all 19 Padres batters after Verrett departed, but the Mets could not climb out of an early six-run deficit. Verrett dropped to 0-3 with a 7.18 ERA in seven starts in the rotation spot originally occupied by Matt Harvey. The Mets already had been wavering about whether Verrett should remain in the rotation to face the Padres. Also Friday, Alejandro De Aza was struck in the neck by a sixth-inning pitch from Buddy Baumann and remained in the game. Travis d'Arnaud went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer. Neil Walker’s nine-game hitting streak ended, although he walked three times. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Newsday and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Zack Wheeler seemingly won’t be joining the Mets this season. Wheeler is experiencing elbow discomfort and is scheduled to be examined by Dr. James Andrews. Wheeler logged one inning last Saturday in his first rehab start with Class A St. Lucie in a rain-shortened outing. Wheeler has not pitched in the majors since Sept. 25, 2014. He underwent Tommy John surgery the following spring training. The Mets originally hoped Wheeler would return shortly before the All-Star break, but Wheeler suffered two other setbacks during his rehab. In April, he required a second surgery to remove an undissolved stitch from the original procedure. Then, in June, he received a cortisone injection for what was labeled nerve irritation after also experiencing elbow discomfort. Read more in the Post, Daily News, Record, Journal and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Michael Conforto was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas before Friday’s game. Conforto was hitting .200/.298/.340 in 57 plate appearances since returning from his last demotion to the Pacific Coast League. Lugo was promoted to take Conforto’s rotation spot since Niese had a minor knee issue and was not placed on the DL. Read more in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Jose Reyes went 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored and logged seven innings at third base in his second rehab game with Brooklyn as he works back from a left oblique strain.
Champ Stuart and Dominic Smith drove in two runs apiece in a six-run seventh as Binghamton beat Harrisburg, 7-3. Milton Ramos’ two-run double wasn’t enough as Greensboro beat Columbia, 3-2. Desmond Lindsay had seven RBIs and Brooklyn beat West Virginia, 14-7. Read the full minor-league recap here.
Read more on Pride Night in the Daily News.
From the bloggers … Faith and Fear considers comebacks.
BIRTHDAYS: Hansel Robles turns 26. ... Jon Switzer is 37.
TWEET OF THE DAY:
You saw a loss to the dreadful San Diego Padres https://t.co/52xksCVj8P
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarr88) August 13, 2016
YOU’RE UP: Is Niese the correct choice to start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks in place of Verrett?
