Mets at White Sox
The New York Mets brought in one starting pitcher Sunday and sent another packing Monday, leaving speculation to swirl that Noah Syndergaard could be making his last start with the team in Tuesday's opener of a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox. New York has won four in a row after completing a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
While the Mets were expected to trade either Syndergaard or fellow starter Zack Wheeler, they pulled off a surprise by acquiring All-Star right-hander Marcus Stroman from Toronto on Sunday. New York then swung a deal to ship veteran lefty Jason Vargas to National League East rival Philadelphia while Syndergaard's status remains a mystery ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline. While the Mets are eighth in the wild-card chase, the White Sox saw any playoff hopes disappear when they lost their first seven coming out of the All-Star break. A loser of 13 of 17 overall, Chicago is 2-5 on its season-high 10-game road trip and has scored 12 runs over its last six contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (7-5, 4.33 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo López (5-9, 5.52)
Syndergaard went seven innings for the third consecutive start last time out against San Diego but took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) and eight hits. That ended a nine-start unbeaten streak for the 26-year-old, who permitted one run in a no-decision at San Francisco in his previous turn and beat Miami by striking out nine and yielding two runs on July 13. Jon Jay is 3-for-3 against Syndergaard, who will be making his first start versus the White Sox.
López has been one of the few bright spots in the second half for Chicago, posting a 1.71 ERA in three starts after striking out 10 and limiting Miami to two runs and four hits over a season-high eight innings in a hard-luck loss last time out. He earned the victory at Tampa Bay in his previous turn with seven innings of two-run ball on July 19 after holding Oakland to an unearned run over six innings on July 14. Lopez has surrendered 15 homers in 11 starts at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets OF Michael Conforto homered in back-to-back games to reach 20 for the third straight season.
2. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu has only two singles in his last 19 at-bats.
3. Mets 2B Jeff McNeil is batting a robust .347 on the road.