Mets Morning News: Mets' streak comes to an end, Colon pitches today, Cuddyer set to return tomorrow

Meet the Mets

The Mets lost for the first time in eight games last night, as they scored three times in the first inning but fell behind after Noah Syndergaard had one of the rougher innings of his major league career. He wound up giving up five runs in four innings, which was all the Rays needed. The Nationals won, too, which means the Mets' lead in the National League East stands at one-and-a-half games. Bartolo Colon starts the series finale today opposite Chris Archer, a pitching mismatch to be certain, but hardly a guarantee of any particular outcome.

Choose your recap: Amazin' Avenue long and short, Newsday, Daily News, Post, Record, MLB.com, Star-Ledger, Times, or ESPN.

Michael Cuddyer is set to rejoin the Mets tomorrow after hitting the disabled list because of a balky knee a couple weeks ago. The Mets might send down Michael Conforto—rather than Eric Campbell—when they activate Cuddyer.

Newsday spoke to Keith Hernandez about getting traded to the Mets and Yoenis Cespedes.

Terry Collins has been supplied with a matrix to help him optimize his starting lineup based on hitter tendencies against similar pitchers to the one the Mets face each day.

Around the NL East

As previously mentioned, the Nationals won their game against the Rockies last night, and Stephen Strasburg pitched very well in the process. Federal Baseball is wondering how much playing time Jayson Werth should be getting at this point, though.

Lately, the Phillies have been doing their best to not get the first pick in the draft next year.

And in the intradivision game that didn't matter, the Braves beat the Marlins.

Around MLB

The Blue Jays are on fire, now just two-and-a-half games back of the Yankees in the American League East.

The Times looks at the Cubs as they contend following a rebuild—and compares them and the Mets, naturally.

This date in Mets history

Speaking of the Cubs, the Mets and Cubs played the first full night game at Wrigley Field on this date.