Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Morning Briefing: Big Papi praises Mets pitching

NEW YORK --

FIRST PITCH: The Boston Red Sox won two of three games during the weekend at Citi Field, but David Ortiz came away impressed with the co-aces of the New York Mets.

After watching Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, Big Papi said: "With that pitching staff, man, they're not too far away from walking into the money. … That's a pitching staff you want in your corner."

With a 5½-game lead over the Washington Nationals for first place in the National League East and 32 games remaining on their schedule, the Mets now face the Philadelphia Phillies for three games in Queens.

Bartolo Colon (11-11, 4.65 ERA) opposes rookie right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 2.25) in Monday's 7:10 p.m. ET opener.

The Mets are 12-1 against the Phillies this season.

Read the Mets-Phillies series preview here.

MONDAY'S NEWS REPORTS:

  • Michael Cuddyer continued his solid production since returning from the disabled list. He capped a 3-for-3 afternoon with an RBI single in the seventh and the Mets beat the Red Sox, 5-4, Sunday to salvage the finale. Jeurys Familia, now utilizing a split-finger fastball, struck out Mookie Betts with the tying run on third base to secure his 35th save. Noah Syndergaard, who described his changeup as the best it has ever been, worked quickly and took a scoreless effort into the sixth before surrendering a two-run homer to Ortiz. Syndergaard allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Newsday, Record and at MLB.com.

  • Addison Reed will join the Mets on Monday and will serve as the primary seventh-inning reliever. The trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks officially was announced Sunday. Minor league right-handers Matt Koch and Miller Diaz go to the D-backs. Logan Verrett was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas to clear a roster spot for Reed. Verrett must remain with Las Vegas for 10 days (or until the end of the regular season on Sept. 7 if the 51s fail to make the Triple-A postseason). In order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Reed, Wilfredo Tovar technically was promoted to the Mets and then placed on the 60-day disabled list. Read more in the Post, Daily News and Record.

  • The Mets confirmed that Kevin Plawecki, Eric Campbell, Eric Young Jr. and Kirk Nieuwenhuis will join the major league team on Tuesday from Las Vegas when rosters expand. Bobby Parnell threw live batting practice on Sunday. He expects to return from the DL on Tuesday as well. Steven Matz and Erik Goeddel are on rehab assignments and figure to be activated that day, too. Dario Alvarez cannot be promoted until Thursday, because he has not yet spent 10 days in the minors. Matz makes his final rehab start on Monday night, with Double-A Binghamton at Reading.

  • Juan Uribe started at second base on Sunday for the first time as a Met after telling manager Terry Collins he preferred not to play first base.

  • Collins ruled out using Matz in the bullpen because of his injury history. The manager subsequently stated it would be hard to foresee Syndergaard anywhere besides the rotation in the postseason, although he could profile as an excellent October reliever. "If we are fortunate to get into further play in October, I think you've got to go with your best pitchers in the spots that they're best in," Collins said. Something has to give, since only four starters at most will be required. Read more in the Journal and Newsday.

  • Steve Serby in the Post has a Q&A with Curtis Granderson. Asked to say something controversial, Granderson said: "I had this conversation with people: If we landed on the moon, how come we've never been back? I think there might be some conspiracy stuff to that."

  • Bobby Valentine, who managed both clubs, attended Sunday's Mets-Red Sox game. "They're in it to win it, and I don't think there's any reason they shouldn't," Valentine told Mitch Abramson in the Daily News. "I don't see any roadblock."

  • Mookie Betts and Mookie Wilson did not have their planned weekend meeting. Wilson arrived late on the field Saturday, when Betts already had started taking batting practice. The meeting -- which Betts requested -- didn't happen Sunday, either. Read more in the Daily News.

  • Read more on Familia from columnist David Lennon in Newsday as well as in the Post and at MLB.com.

  • Read more on Syndergaard in the Post and Newsday.

  • Dillon Gee allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out 10 in six innings in a no-decision as Las Vegas lost, 5-3, at Round Rock. Adam Kolarek allowed a two-run double in the 10th and Binghamton lost to New Hampshire, 5-3. Thomas McIlraith allowed one run in seven innings in Kingsport's 2-1 win against Danville. Read the full minor league recap here.

  • From the bloggers … Mets Report doesn't want to see Syndergaard in the bullpen in the postseason. … Blogging Mets asserts it was never going to be easy for the Mets to make the playoffs.

BIRTHDAYS: Hideo Nomo turns 47. ... Claudell Washington is 61. ... Ramon Ramirez is 34. ... Pedro Perez is 21.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

YOU'RE UP: Do you approve of the September call-ups? Or have players such as Vic Black, Gee, Dilson Herrera and Josh Smoker been snubbed?

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