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          New York Mets

          Morning Briefing: Mets to take swing against AL East foe

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 18, 2015, 10:30 AM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          NEW YORK --

          FIRST PITCH: After a day off to put the weekend sweep to the Pittsburgh Pirates behind them, the New York Mets open an interleague series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday at Camden Yards.

          Jacob deGrom (11-6, 2.03 ERA) opposes right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-4, 4.48) in the 7:05 p.m. ET opener of the two-game series.

          Baltimore (61-56) is one of only two teams on the Mets’ remaining schedule with a winning record. The other is the Yankees, who visit Citi Field Sept. 18-20.

          The Mets (63-55) maintain a 4½-game lead over the Washington Nationals atop the NL East.

          MONDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:

          • David Wright is due to resume his rehab assignment on Tuesday with Class A St. Lucie after skipping a pair of games with the Florida State League club in Bradenton. Wright is expected to be activated from the disabled list next week, when the Mets play in Philadelphia. Read more in the Daily News.

          • Rafael Montero had a setback while logging three innings for Class A St. Lucie and is unlikely to contribute to the Mets anytime soon.

          • General manager Sandy Alderson tells Mike Puma in the Post that he does not expect a reliever to be obtained via trade. “I don’t foresee us making a trade,” Alderson said. Puma suggests Vic Black is an option for a promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas. Erik Goeddel, whose rehab assignment has shifted to Double-A Binghamton, now might return to the Mets before rosters expand on Sept. 1.

          • ESPN has picked up the Sept. 20 Subway Series game between the Mets and Yankees and has moved it to Sunday Night Baseball.

          • Columnist Joel Sherman in the Post looks at Curtis Granderson's struggles against left-handed pitching. Granderson is hitting only .150 (15-for-100) with one homer and eight RBIs against southpaws. That might necessitate an outfield of Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Lagares and Michael Cuddyer against left-handers the remainder of the season, with Granderson on the bench.

          • Sherman in the Post also examines the state of the Nats, who dipped below .500 on Sunday.

          • Columnist John Harper in the Daily News recommends Wally Backman as the next manager in D.C.

          • Orioles pitching coach Dave Wallace salutes the job Terry Collins is doing as manager of the Mets. Wallace worked under Collins in the minors with the Dodgers. “Given what he’s done over the last few years -- when he got there and inherited that team and all the problems that were going on internally, and to handle the New York press and do the job he’s done -- I think it’s terrific,” Wallace told the Post.

          • Steven Marcus in Newsday previews the Mets-Orioles series.

          • Kirk Nieuwenhuis started in left field for Las Vegas as his rehab assignment moved to the Pacific Coast League club. He was ejected at the end of the eighth inning. Danny Muno hit a walk-off homer as Las Vegas won, 5-4, in 12 innings. St. Lucie mustered three hits in a 5-0 loss at Bradenton. Eudor Garcia went 4-for-5 and Savannah posted its 14th straight win with a 6-1 victory at Augusta. Kevin Kaczmarski tripled and homered and Kingsport beat Princeton, 6-2. Read the full minor league recap here.

          BIRTHDAYS: Pat Misch turns 34.

          TWEET OF THE DAY:

          YOU’RE UP: Which reliever should the Mets acquire?