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          New York Mets

          Morning Briefing: Back to .500

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 16, 2016, 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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          PHOENIX -- The New York Mets again are a .500 club.

          Now, Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 2.75 ERA) opposes Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Braden Shipley (2-1, 2.96) on Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

          Syndergaard is 0-4 with a 3.78 ERA in his last six starts. He has averaged 18.5 pitches per inning during that span.

          TUESDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:

          • Bartolo Colon allowed five runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks in four innings and the Mets lost to the Diamondbacks, 10-6, Monday at Chase Field. Arizona remains the only team Colon has not beaten in his major league career. Jose Reyes had a pair of RBI singles to account for the Mets' opening two runs. The Mets' modest two-game winning streak ended, and they dropped to 0-4 against Arizona this season. The Mets also dropped three games behind the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot. Colon, by the way, walked for the first time in his MLB career thanks to a free pass from Robbie Ray. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Newsday and at NJ.com and MLB.com.

          • Yoenis Cespedes went 0-for-3 with an RBI as the designated hitter for Class A St. Lucie in his first rehab game. He is due to play with the Florida State League club through Wednesday as a left fielder, then be activated from the disabled list on Friday in San Francisco, when he is eligible to return. "If I continue to feel the same way that I felt today, then I'm going to be ready," Cespedes told TCPalm.com through an interpreter. Justin Ruggiano also began a rehab assignment on Monday, going 1-for-3 and playing five innings in right field with Las Vegas. Asdrubal Cabrera is due to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with St. Lucie as the DH and might be activated by the end of the weekend. Read more at NJ.com.

          • Zack Wheeler's appointment with Dr. James Andrews is now scheduled for Wednesday in Florida.

          • Neil Walker's wife Niki is due with the couple's first child on Tuesday. Walker plans to go on paternity leave once he gets a call that his wife has gone into labor. Read more in the Post, Newsday and at MLB.com.

          • Logan Verrett's representatives are hoping to rescind his demotion and instead get him placed on the major league DL because of a neck issue. Dr. Robert Watkins in California is reviewing an MRI that Mets doctors did not find alarming, according to assistant GM John Ricco.

          • Original Met Choo-Choo Coleman passed away Monday at age 80. Read more on the life of the '62 Met in the Times, Daily News and at MLB.com.

          • Brandon Nimmo went 4-for-6, but Las Vegas lost to New Orleans, 12-8. Colton Plaia scored on a wild pitch for Binghamton's lone run in a 4-1 loss to New Hampshire. Kelly Secrest took the loss in relief as Jupiter beat St. Lucie, 5-3. Yeffry De Aza's walk-off two-run single lifted Kingsport over Greeneville, 5-4. Read the full minor-league recap here.

          • Bob Raissman in the Daily News looks at analyst Keith Hernandez's contribution to the SNY booth.

          • From the bloggers ... Faith and Fear is not always fascinated by Terry Collins' thinking. ... Mets Report lists 10 things the Mets must do to turn around the season.

          BIRTHDAYS: Rick Reed turns 52. ... Roger Cedeno is 42. ... Mike Jorgensen is 68. ... Audry German is 24.

          TWEET OF THE DAY:

          YOU’RE UP: What should the Mets do with Curtis Granderson?