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          New York Mets

          Morning Briefing: Happy deGrom day!

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterSep 21, 2014, 05:24 AM 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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          Adam Rubin

          Jacob deGrom makes what's expected to be his second-to-last start of the season Sunday.ATLANTA

          FIRST PITCH: Jacob deGrom gets another chance to solidify his credentials for the NL Rookie of the Year Award as the Mets bid for a sweep of the Atlanta Braves on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at Turner Field.

          DeGrom tied the modern-day MLB record by striking out the first eight batters he faced against the Miami Marlins in his most recent start. It matched a feat first performed by Jim Deshaies in 1986 with the Houston Astros. DeGrom ultimately struck out a career-high 13 in the game. He enters his 22nd career start with an 8-6 record and 2.68 ERA.

          DeGrom recently produced a streak of 28 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. It was the longest such streak by a rookie in the majors since Matt Cain went 30 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run in 2006, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

          In his last 14 starts, deGrom is 8-2 with a 1.93 ERA.

          DeGrom opposes Braves right-hander Ervin Santana (14-9, 3.74 ERA) in the series finale. The Mets have not swept a three-game series at Turner Field since 2007.

          Sunday’s news reports:

          • Jonathon Niese took a scoreless effort into the eighth inning and Dilson Herrera and Curtis Granderson homered as the Mets beat the Braves, 4-2, Saturday at Turner Field. The Mets moved into third place in the NL East, leapfrogging the Miami Marlins. The Amazin’s are only 1½ games behind second-place Atlanta.

          Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Star-Ledger, Record, Newsday and at MLB.com.

          • Herrera suffered a strained right quadriceps muscle legging out an infield single in the sixth inning Saturday, potentially ending his season. Read more in the Star-Ledger.

          • Broadcaster Howie Rose speaks with Justin Tasch in the Daily News about the first baseball game back in New York after 9/11, which took place on Sept. 21, 2001 -- 13 years ago today. “Forty, maybe fifty-thousand people here, and the wound was so open,” Rose told Tasch. “The bleeding hadn’t stopped. It hadn’t even begun to scab. Who the hell knew what was gonna happen when 40-something-thousand people got together in one place? That was scary. That was intimidating.”

          • Jeurys Familia, who already has matched a franchise rookie record with 73 relief appearances, will not play winter ball, according to Kristie Ackert in the Daily News.

          • The Mets tentatively plan for Rafael Montero to get a start during the final series of the season, against the Houston Astros at Citi Field.

          • SNY pregmae/postgame analyst Bobby Ojeda and the Mets have not substantively talked about a new deal to supplant his expiring contract, Bob Raissman writes in the Daily News.

          • From the bloggers …John Delcos at NY Mets Report wonders if Niese will ever reach the next level.

          BIRTHDAYS: Scott Rice turns 33. ... Former Mets reliever Greg Burke, who recently underwent hip surgery after pitching in Triple-A for the Colorado Rockies, is 32. ... Former infielder Joaquin Arias is 30.

          TWEET OF THE DAY:

          YOU’RE UP: Will Daniel Murphy or Dilson Herrera be the Opening Day second baseman for the Mets next season?