Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy is back after missing a turn in the rotation and looks to pitch his club past the New York Mets Wednesday in the conclusion of a two-game series from Citi Field.
Peavy last took the mound April 26 in a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay and missed his next scheduled start because of a back issue. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner tested his back a few days ago by throwing off a mound and said he is ready to roll Wednesday in New York.
"We're all on point to go Wednesday night," Peavy said. "I'm super excited about that, and can't thank our training staff enough. A few days ago, I didn't feel good at all."
The right-hander worked with a chiropractor and a massage therapist to get himself back on track and is 3-1 with a 3.38 earned run average in five starts this season. He allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Rays and will make his third road start Thursday.
In 10 career starts against the Mets, Peavy is 5-2 with a 3.48 ERA.
Countering for New York will be winless right-hander Jeremy Hefner. Hefner is 0-3 with a 4.34 earned run average in six games (5 starts) this season and was in line for his first win on April 30 at Miami. He was cruising through eight innings until the Marlins rallied in the bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 win.
Hefner has been solid in his last two starts, allowing three runs over 15 innings of work, and has never faced the White Sox. The Mets have lost all six of his appearances this season.
New York has won six of Matt Harvey's seven starts and hope Hefner can match his rotation mate with a solid performance. In Tuesday's 1-0 win in 10 innings over the White Sox, Harvey was incredible with a career-high 12 strikeouts over nine innings of one-hit ball. He did not walk a batter and gave way to Bobby Parnell in the 10.
"I went out and did my thing and tried to keep runners off base. Fortunately for us I was able to do that," said Harvey, who has allowed one run or less in 11 of his first 17 major league starts.
Parnell scooped up his third win (3-0) of the season with two K's in the top of the 10th. Pinch-hitter Mike Baxter helped Parnell to the victory by driving in Ike Davis for the game-winning run.
The Mets have now won three of four games since a six-game slide and will begin a four-game series at home versus Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Chicago starter Hector Santiago pitched well in the no-decision, as he fanned eight batters, walked two and scattered four hits in seven innings. Santiago's showing was overshadowed by Harvey's gem.
"He's as advertised. You hear about guys, especially when they're not in your league and you don't see them very much. But as far as what you see throughout the league, he has as dominating stuff as anyone we've seen," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Harvey.
Matt Lindstrom threw a scoreless eighth and Nate Jones was dealt the loss for allowing Baxter's run-scoring hit.
Alex Rios had the lone hit for the White Sox, who have dropped three of four and are scheduled to open a three-game series back home Friday versus the LA Angels of Anaheim.
Chicago and New York are meeting for the first time since the White Sox took two of three matchups in the Windy City back in 2002. This is Chicago's first ever trip to Flushing, NY.
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