Mets Injury Update: Jason Bay, Frank Francisco To Begin Rehab Assignments Wednesday

New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay and closer Frank Francisco will begin their rehab assignments with Class-A St. Lucie on Wednesday, according to a report (via ESPN New York). Bay has only played 22 games due to injury this season and hit .187 with four home runs, six RBI and seven walks. Francisco is recovering from an left oblique strain.

Bay has been on the disabled list since sustaining his second concussion in the past three seasons on June 15. After playing for St. Lucie, Bay will move up to Triple-A Buffalo before being activated by the Mets. Bay is expected to return for New York after the MLB All-Star break against the Washington Nationals on July 17.

Francisco threw off a mound on Saturday and is slated to throw off a mound again on Monday. His timetable for return is considered to be on the same track as Bay. Francisco is 1-3 on the season with a 4.97 ERA. He has 18 saves in 21 opportunities this season.

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Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: New York Loses Series Finale, 7-0

It wasn't pretty but it was at least quick Sunday for the New York Mets, who concluded the first half of the 2012 season with 7-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs (33-52) at Citi Field. It was was the second quickest game of the season -- two hours and eight minutes -- the Mets were blanked by a combination of Cubs' starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (4-3, 1.99 ERA) and four other relief pitchers to end the first 86 games with a 46-40 record.

Mets' starting pitcher Jon Niese was rocked for four first-inning runs before settling down to pitch the five scoreless innings. However, Niese (7-4, 3.73 ERA) didn't get the run support needed to help his team avoid a series loss to one of the league's worst clubs.

Dempster, who returned from the disabled list, pitched five scoreless innings and then turned the ball over his bullpen.

Cubs' shortstop Sterling Castors cemented the win for Chicago as he belted a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. The Mets Daniel Murphy finished the game with three hits.

The Mets will resume play on Friday, when they travel to play a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. New York will begin the second half of its season in a second-place tie in the NL East Division standings, which features the Atlanta Braves and Mets five games behind the first-place Washington Nationals.

Stick with this StoryStream for previews, scores and more from the Mets vs. Cubs series. For all things Mets, check out Amazin' Avenue.

Mets (46-39) Vs. Cubs (32-52) Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers

The New York Mets will conclude its three-game series with the Chicago Cubs and their amazing first half of the 2012 MLB season Sunday at Citi Field (1:10 p.m. on SNY). The Mets (46-39) will turn to rookie Jon Niese (7-3, 3.35 ERA) to complete their surprising first half on a good note as he opposes the Cubs' Ryan Dempster (3-3, 2.11 ERA), who makes his return from the disable list.

The three-game slate is currently tied at a game apiece, as last-place Chicago (32-52) took Game 1, 8-7, on Friday but lost Saturday, 3-1. A victory Sunday would help the Mets earn a season-series split with the Cubs, who enters the contest taking three of five games against New York.

After Sunday's game, the Mets could enter the MLB's All-Star Break in second place in the NL East Division standings, which feature New York just 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Washington Nationals and a 1/2-game ahead of the third-place Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs, however, are tied with the league's worst record.

Stick with this StoryStream for previews, scores and more from the Mets vs. Cubs series. For all things Mets, check out Amazin' Avenue.

Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: Dillon Gee Goes 8 Innings In 3-1 Win

Dillon Gee (6-7) tied a career high, pitching eight innings during the New York Mets' 3-1 win over the Chicago Cub in Game 2 of their three-game series Saturday at Citi Field. Gee gave up just one earned run off seven hits and no walks, while striking out four.

Jordany Valdespin and Ike Davis hit home runs in the second and third inning, respectively. Valdespin's solo shot was his fourth on the year. Davis also scored Ruben Tejada on his 12th homer of the season.

Outside of the two home runs he relinquished, Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (6-8) was otherwise decent on the mound for Chicago. He stayed for seven innings, striking out four and giving up seven hits and two walks.

David DeJesus put the Cubs' lone run on the board with a sixth inning single to score Luis Valbuena. Bobby Parnell struck out Steve Clevenger looking in the ninth inning to end the game and earn his second save of the season.

Game 3 of the series is set for 1:10 p.m. ET on Sunday. Jonathon Niese (7-3, 3.35 ERA) and the Cubs' Ryan Dempster (3-3, 2.11) will be the starting pitchers.

Stick with this StoryStream for previews, scores and more from the Mets vs. Cubs series. For all things Mets, check out Amazin' Avenue.

Mets (45-39) Vs. Cubs (32-51) Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers

The New York Mets continue a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. (Game Time: 4:10 p.m. ET, TV Schedule: SNY)

The Mets dropped the series opener on Friday, 8-7, after Chicago's 22-year old first baseman Anthony Rizzo connected for a career-best four hits with one home run and three RBI.

Dillon Gee will make the start for New York and hope to reverse recent misfortunes. He has lost two straight starts and four out of his last five.

Gee will face Jeff Samardzija, who is coming off a career-best 11-strikeout performance in his previous start.

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Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: 9th Inning Rally Falls Short As New York Loses 8-7

The New York Mets lost to the Chicago Cubs by a final score of 8-7 Friday night, dropping Game 1 of the three game series. The game went back and forth, but the Mets proved unable to come back from after the Cubs scored five runs in the fifth. They managed a rally in the bottom of the ninth, but came up just short.

Trouble started for Johan Santana early, giving up a leadoff home run to Reed Johnson to start the game. The Mets answered with a run in the second on a Lucas Duda home run and in the third on a Ronny Cedeno double, but Chicago tied it 2-2 in the fourth. The fifth was where things came apart for Santana, starting with singles to the first two batters. Anthony Rizzo took Santana deep, making it 5-2 Cubs. Jeff Baker added a solo home run and after two more singles Luis Valbuena singled in another run, ending Santana's night with the score 7-2 Chicago. The Mets added a run in the sixth and both teams scored in the eighth, leaving it 8-5 in the bottom of the ninth.

Jordany Valdespin started the rally with a solo home run with one out. The Mets then took advantage of Carlos Marmol's struggles, as they took three straight walks to load the bases. A single from Ike Davis knocked in two more runs, leaving the Mets within one, but a Lucas Duda ground into a double play to end the game.

With the loss the Mets drop to 45-39. Game 2 of the three game series is scheduled for Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET.

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Jason Bay Injury Update: Mets Outfielder Expected Back For Nationals Series After All-Star Break

New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay is scheduled to be activated from the diabled list against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park after the MLB All-Star break (via New York Post). That series against the Nationals will begin on July 17. Bay has been out with a concussion.

Bay could start his rehab stint in the minors on Sunday in Single-A St. Lucie before moving up to Triple-A Buffalo later in the week. Bay is recovering from his second concussion in three seasons.

This season, Bay has hit .187 with four home runs and six RBI in 75 at-bats. Manager Terry Collins indicated that he will place Bay back into the starting lineup when he returns from injury. "When he comes back we will insert him in the lineup and hopefully he will be ready to get himself back on track. We certainly need him and his bat in the lineup. We hope that when he gets back he's ready to play."

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Mets (45-38) Vs. Cubs (31-51) Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers