Although he hasn't recorded a decision in the last two starts, New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey tries to keep his unblemished record intact Tuesday in the opener of a two-game set with the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field.
Harvey is 4-0 with a 1.56 earned run average in six appearances this season and last toed the rubber on April 29 in a 4-3 loss at Miami. Harvey threw a career-high 121 pitches and held the Marlins to a run in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and has fanned that many in three straight outings.
The right-hander is well rested after a long layoff with off-days and a rainout on Saturday.
"You've got to deal with it. It's an adjustment, but it's definitely not the first time that I've gone seven or eight days without pitching," Harvey told the club's website.
Harvey is 2-0 in three starts at Citi Field this season and will face the White Sox for the first time.
New York split what was supposed to be a three-game series with the Braves and suffered a 9-4 loss in Sunday's finale. Jon Niese was pounded for seven runs and seven hits in four innings and walked six batters.
"Today was one of those outings that I just want to forget about," Niese said afterward. "I walked way too many guys. It's embarrassing. I've just got to learn from it."
David Wright hit his fifth home run of the season and was the only Met to finish with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. The Mets were coming off Friday's win and have dropped seven of nine.
The Mets hope to stop a four-game home losing streak Tuesday.
Chicago salvaged the finale of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals by virtue of a 2-1 win in 11 innings on Monday. The game was a makeup from Friday's postponement due to inclement weather.
Jordan Danks hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the 11th and Addison Reed shut the Royals down in the bottom half for the save.
"Being able to pull off a win like that, especially when we're struggling, it's big time," Danks said.
Chris Sale started for the White Sox and tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in the no-decision, while Jesse Crain got the win with a scoreless 10th. Alexei Ramirez drove in a run and both Alex Rios and DeWayne Wise finished with two hits for the White Sox.
In other Chicago news, right-hander Gavin Floyd will undergo season-ending elbow surgery and will have the ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle repaired. He is expected to miss more than a year.
"We just have to be there for him and keep his head up," Sale said of his rotation mate. "He's an outstanding pitcher, and an even better person."
White Sox starter Jake Peavy has been experiencing back issues lately and said he felt good after throwing off the mound Monday. Peavy is slated to start Wednesday against the Mets.
"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."
Hector Santiago gets the nod for Tuesday's series opener and is 1-1 with a 2.29 earned run average in eight games (1 start) this season. Santiago got the win in Thursday's 3-1 decision at Texas and limited the Rangers to a run and two hits in 5 1/3 frames. The left-hander from Newark, NJ has never faced the Mets in his career.
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.
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