New York Mets

Murphy went 4 for 4, with two singles and two doubles. Murphy also walked during the game. He added an RBI and scored two runs. Murphy now has 10 hits in his last five games. 

It was the first time this season Marcum pitched at least five full innings. He takes an 0-4 record and 6.75 ERA into a home start against the Reds Monday.

Hawkins was asked about the controversy surrounding Valdespin's recent hit by pitch against the Pirates. Valdespin hit a home run with the team down by six runs and celebrated a little too much. The following day, manager Terry Collins pinch hit Valdespin expecting him to be hit by a pitch.

Hawkins couldn't defend his teammate, saying "he showed absolutely no respect. If you're going to pimp it, you're going to suffer the consequences." Hawkins added, "I have no problem defending my teammates, but some things, you just can't defend against."

Valdespin is hitting .235/.297/.426 in 68 at-bats.

"As we sit here, at this particular time, I don't have an answer for you," Collins said about Gee's struggles, per ESPN. "Obviously this guy has gotten to the major leagues. He's become a very, very good major-league pitcher with the command of his stuff. When he pitches good, he's a guy who can throw any pitch at any time. He keeps the hitters off balance. And he's not throwing strikes. Is it due to the surgery? I can't answer that. I don't have that answer. I asked [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen] if the delivery is the same. Dan said it is, or minute changes, which happen to everybody. He's just not making the pitches he normally makes."

Valdespin will play right field and hit leadoff. He will face Cardinals' ace Adam Wainwright. It's Valdespin's first start since May 8. He's hitting .235/.297/.426 in 68 at-bats.

"You’ve got to get out of that. Fly balls aren’t going to help you," Collins told Tejada.

Tejada has hit .227/.301/.295 with no home runs in 148 plate appearances this season. He has a 33 percent fly ball rate heading into Wednesday's game, according to Fangraphs.

Byrd is enjoying a productive May, batting .370 (10 for 27) with a .667 slugging percentage and 1.024 OPS in eight games (seven starts). He also has two doubles, two home runs and six RBI.

Harvey held the Cubs to just two earned runs in 7 1/3 innings, and even his two runs could easily been unearned, as they came to score on an infield single and throwing error in the first inning. He held the Cubs to just five hits overall and walked no batters, while striking out six.

Harvey improved his record to 5-0, while his ERA rose slightly, to 1.55. He will attempt to remain unbeaten in his next start, Wednesday against the Reds. 

But don't assume he's back to normal. There's still that messy issue of the Mets instructing him to pitch to contact.

I don't mean to keep harping on something I heard once on an opposing team's broadcast, but with only three strikeouts again Thursday, Niese has no more than three in any of his last seven starts. He's averaging 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings this year after averaging 7.3 per nine last year.

If that doesn't change, I don't see how he's anything more than a matchups type in mixed leagues.

Parnell entered the game in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and promptly retired the Cubs on 15 pitches. He had no strikeouts, but picked up two fly ball outs and one groundball out.

Parnell has five saves in seven opportunities, with an 0.98 ERA. He has four wins, three of which have come in May.

Rice has made a major-league high 23 appearances this season. If he continues being used at this rate, Rice would break the Mets' record for appearances in a season. Manager Terry Collins has been happy with Rice's production, saying "Scott’s done a great job, he really has. So in those situations, he’s going to have to be the guy that steps up, and either gets his groundball or strikeout."

In 18 1/3 innings this season, Rice has a 3.44 ERA and a 3.84 FIP.

Wright went 3 for 4 with a solo home run, accounting for three of the team's eight hits. He added a stolen base, his ninth of the season.

Wright is now batting .312 on the season, and has been on fire since the start of May. He is hitting .364 in 14 games, with twice as many home runs (four) as in April. He has six home runs on the season, with 27 RBI.