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          New York Mets

          Series preview: Mets vs. Giants

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterApr 28, 2016, 02:15 PM ET
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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 METS (13-7, second place/NL East) vs. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (12-11, second place/NL West)

          Friday: LHP Steven Matz (2-1, 5.40) vs. RHP Jake Peavy (1-1, 6.86), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Saturday: RHP Jacob deGrom (2-0, 1.54) vs. RHP Matt Cain (0-2, 6.43), 4:05 p.m. ET

          Sunday: RHP Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 1.69) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (2-2, 3.64), 1:10 p.m. ET

          GIANTS SHORT HOPS

          • First baseman Brandon Belt signed a five-year, $72.8 million extension through 2021 on April 9. The deal covers his final two arbitration years and four years of free-agency eligibility. Belt is hitting .303 with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .402 on-base percentage in 92 plate appearances this season. He had a five-RBI game on Wednesday as San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres.

          • St. John’s product Joe Panik has reached base safely in each of his last 14 games. A first-time All-Star in 2015, Panik missed the final two months of last season with a stress fracture in his lower back.

          • Closer Santiago Casilla recorded his 100th career save on Monday. Among relievers with at least 80 saves since 2012, Casilla and current Mets setup man Addison Reed are tied for the worst conversion rate at 82.2 percent.

          • Shortstop Brandon Crawford departed Wednesday’s game after six innings because he fouled a ball off a knee. Crawford signed a six-year, $75 million extension on Nov. 17.

          • Right fielder Hunter Pence is hitting .476 (10-for-21) with three doubles, a triple, two homers and five RBIs during his current six-game hitting streak. He was limited to 52 games last season because of three disabled-list trips.

          • Reliever Sergio Romo landed on the disabled list with a flexor strain in his right arm on April 15. He is due to begin tossing a baseball on Friday. Fellow reliever George Kontos is on the DL with a similar injury.

          • Former Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span signed a three-year, $31 million contract with the Giants on Jan. 7.

          • The last time the Giants visited Citi Field, Chris Heston tossed a no-hitter. After posting a 10.80 ERA in four appearances as a long reliever to begin this season, Heston was demoted and is now pitching with Triple-A Sacramento.

          • The Mets will miss new imports Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, both of whom signed in December. Cueto received a six-year, $130 million deal. Samardzija received a five-year, $90 million deal. Cueto picked up his 100th career win on Tuesday. He became the 12th Dominican-born pitcher to reach that milestone. Juan Marichal tops that career wins list with 243, followed by Bartolo Colon and Pedro Martinez with 219 apiece.

          • Giants batters have struck out 141 times this season. Only the Los Angeles Angels have fewer strikeouts (117).

          • Jake Peavy took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning in his last start at Citi Field, which came on Aug. 2, 2014. His fastball this season is averaging a career-low 88.9 mph. That’s down from 90.2 mph in 2015 and a career average of 91.1 mph. Similarly, Matt Cain’s fastball velocity is averaging a career-low 90.4 mph this season.

          • Tim Lincecum, who is working back from hip surgery, reportedly has been working out at the Giants’ complex in Arizona. However, he remains a free agent.

          METS SHORT HOPS

          • Yoenis Cespedes expects to return to the lineup Friday after missing five straight starts with a severe bruise to his upper right leg. Cespedes nonetheless delivered a game-tying pinch-hit three-run homer on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. He had fluid drained on Monday.

          • Neil Walker has nine homers, tied with Washington’s Bryce Harper for the major league lead. The long-ball total also matches the franchise record for April. Dave Kingman (1976), Carlos Delgado (2006) and John Buck (2013) also had nine homers.

          • Michael Conforto is hitting .366 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 11 games since moving to the No. 3 slot.

          • Travis d'Arnaud landed on the disabled list Tuesday with a rotator-cuff strain, which makes Kevin Plawecki the No. 1 catcher. Veteran catcher Rene Rivera was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, but has yet to appear.

          • The Mets have won four straight series. They are on a season-high six-game winning streak.