R.A. Dickey took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, when it unraveled. The Mets ultimately lost, 4-3, to the Astros on Monday on Jed Lowrie's tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning against Manny Acosta. The Mets nonetheless produced a 13-10 record in April.

Tuesday's news reports:

• Dickey suggested he only threw one bad pitch in Monday's loss -- the knuckleball that stayed up that Matt Downs belted for a two-run homer. Read game recaps in the Times, Record, Newsday, Star-Ledger, Daily News, Post and Journal.

• Under a new scheduling plan with the Astros going to the American League, the Mets and Yankees are no longer likely to play six games a season -- except every third year when the NL East and AL East face off in interleague play. Instead, the Mets and Yankees will play one three-game series a season at one ballpark, or home-and-home two-game series, sources told ESPNNewYork.com. Read more in the Daily News.

• Mike Pelfrey will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Dr. James Andrews will perform the procedure. Because Pelfrey likely will require a 12-month recovery period, the Mets are likely to cut loose Pelfrey at the Dec. 2 non-tender deadline, making him a free agent. Chris Schwinden continues in the rotation spot Wednesday. Chris Young could be in a Florida State League game as soon as Saturday. Read more in the Star-Ledger, Record, Journal and Newsday.

• Andres Torres returned from the disabled list Monday and went 1-for-4. Kirk Nieuwenhuis moved to left field to accommodate Torres' return, but the rookie remained in the leadoff spot. Read more in the Times.

• Lucas Duda pinch hit and walked in the Mets' three-run seventh, but he did not start because of illness. Terry Collins does not believe Duda will be capable of starting Tuesday, either. Closer Frank Francisco also was unavailable, because of an upper-hamstring issue, but Collins portrayed that as likely a one-day absence caused by dehydration suffered during the weekend in Denver. Read more in the Post.

• Johan Santana aced April, despite being winless, writes Anthony Rieber in Newsday. "I think, obviously, because he's Johan Santana, there were expectations," Collins said. "But due to the seriousness of the injury that he had and the operation, everybody, including myself, we were hoping we were going to get quality innings out of him. And he's gone above and beyond it all."

• Mike Puma in the Post labels David Wright the MVP and Jason Bay the LVP for April.

• Travis Taijeron homered twice and had five RBIs. An 18th round pick last June out of Cal Poly Pomona, Taijeron also scored the decisive run in the 12th on a wild pitch as Savannah beat Lexington, 10-9. Read Monday's full minor league recap here.

TRIVIA: Which current NL East manager had the best finish in last year's manager of the year voting, regardless of league?

Monday's answer: Danny Heep came to the Mets in the Dec. 10, 1982 trade that sent Mike Scott to Houston.