METS (66-68, fourth place/NL East) at CHICAGO CUBS (57-77, fifth place/NL Central)

Friday: RHP R.A. Dickey (9-5, 2.56) vs. RHP Randy Wells (6-12, 4.50), 2:20 p.m. ET

Saturday: RHP Jenrry Mejia (0-2, 3.25) vs. RHP Carlos Zambrano (6-6, 4.36), 1:05 p.m. ET

Sunday: LHP Jon Niese (8-7, 3.70) vs. RHP Ryan Dempster (12-9, 3.71), 2:20 p.m. ET

Cubs short hops

Lou Piniella resigned as manager Aug. 22 to be with his ailing mother. He went 1,835-1,713 (.517) over 23 seasons as a manager. Piniella also played in 1,747 major league games over 18 seasons. Third base coach Mike Quade, a native of Evanston, Ill., took over as skipper. Quade managed the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate from 2003-06. GM Jim Hendry has met with ex-Cub second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who is managing Triple-A Iowa, as well as former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge about the position in 2011. Joe Girardi, a Northwestern product, could use the Cubs job as leverage in upcoming negotiations with the Yankees. … Right-hander Casey Coleman became the fourth person in major league history to be a third-generation player when he debuted Aug. 2. His father is Joe Coleman, who pitched from 1965-79. His grandfather, also Joe Coleman, pitched from 1942-55. Both were All-Stars. The other three-generation families: the Bells, Boones and Hairstons. … Rookie shortstop Starlin Castro (.317, 3 HR, 40 RBIs) had six RBIs on May 7, a major league record for a debut. He produced 41 hits in August, the most by a Cubs rookie in any month since Hall of Famer Ernie Banks had 43 in August 1954. Castro’s August hit total ranked third overall in the National League last month, trailing only Atlanta’s Omar Infante (43) and Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun (42). … Derrek Lee was traded to the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 18 for minor leaguers Robinson Lopez, Tyrelle Harris and Jeffrey Lorick. Outfielder Tyler Colvin has since worked out at first base, which he last manned during his sophomore year of college at Clemson, but is not ready to play a game there. Ex-Met Xavier Nady has played first base since Lee’s departure. Nady is hitting .253 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 225 at-bats this season. Colvin is the league’s rookie leader in homers with 19. Billy Williams has the franchise rookie record for homers with 25 in 1961. … Third baseman Aramis Ramirez entered Thursday tied for the National League lead in RBIs since the All-Star break with Cincinnati’s Joey Votto and Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker at 37. … Right-hander Randy Wells snapped a personal five-game losing streak when he beat the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, the day he turned 28 years old. … Infielder Jeff Baker was scratched Wednesday with left Achilles tendon soreness, but he entered in the seventh inning. All-Star outfielder Marlon Byrd also was out that day with right leg soreness. Byrd has been hit by 17 pitches this season, matching the franchise record. … Chicago did not add any players when rosters expanded Wednesday. Still, Carlos Silva is expected to join the team shortly. Silva made a rehab appearance Wednesday as he returns from a procedure to address an irregular heartbeat. … Carlos Zambrano belted his 21^st career homer Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Zambrano has gone deep eight straight seasons. That’s the longest streak in the majors by a pitcher since Gary Peters went deep nine straight seasons from 1963-71 with the White Sox and Red Sox. Before his most recent start, Zambrano traveled to Venezuela to visit his 11-year-old nephew, who was hospitalized in their native country with a serious bacterial infection. Zambrano spent a month away, on the restricted list, after a June 25 dugout incident with Lee. "It becomes a bit of a tired act," Hendry was quoted as saying. Zambrano was required to undergo anger management training and reassigned to the bullpen for the second time this season when he returned. He is owed nearly $36 million through 2012. Zambrano needs four strikeouts to match Kerry Wood for third on the Cubs’ all-time strikeout list at 1,407. … Catcher Geovany Soto is dealing with right knee swelling, after suffering an injury trying to stretch a hit into a double Sunday. He had an MRI on Monday. … Tom Gorzelanny was struck on his pitching hand by a line drive Wednesday and left the game in the third inning. An X-ray was negative, but Gorzelanny was scheduled to have a CT scan of the tip of the pinkie. … Kosuke Fukudome is hitting .364 during the second half, but has only a part-time role because of the excess of outfielders. Fukudome has a career-high 12 homers. … Alfonso Soriano reached 20 homers for the ninth straight year. The only other major leaguers with an active streak that long: Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Adam Dunn and David Ortiz. … Closer Carlos Marmol leads major league relievers with 114 strikeouts. The franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever is 129, by Bruce Sutter in 1977. … Left-handed reliever Scott Maine made his major league debut last Friday. … Infielder Blake DeWitt was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31 with two minor league pitchers for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot.

Matchups

Dickey vs. Cubs (career: never faced)
Alfonso Soriano .500, 1 RBI, 2 AB
Marlon Byrd .000, 2 AB
Blake DeWitt .000, 2 AB

Mejia vs. Cubs (career: 0-0, 0.00)
Jeff Baker .000, 1 AB
Tyler Colvin .000, 1 AB
Blake DeWitt .000, 1 AB
Kosuke Fukudome .000, 1 AB
Alfonso Soriano .000, 1 AB

Pelfrey vs. Cubs (career: 2-0, 0.60 ERA)
Blake DeWitt .600, 1 RBI, 5 AB
Koyie Hill .500, 2 AB
Geovany Soto .333, 1 RBI, 3 AB
Alfonso Soriano .333, 3 AB
Jeff Baker .222, 9 AB
Aramis Ramirez .000, 6 AB
Marlon Byrd .000, 3 AB
Kosuke Fukudome .000, 2 AB
Micah Hoffpauir .000, 1 AB

Wells vs. Mets (career: 0-1, 1.50 ERA)
Luis Castillo .400, 1 RBI, 5 AB
Ike Davis .333, 3 AB
Angel Pagan .200, 5 AB
David Wright .167, 6 AB

Zambrano vs. Mets (career: 4-3, 3.63 ERA)
Luis Castillo .550, 1 RBI, 20 AB
Angel Pagan .444, 9 AB
Henry Blanco .250, 4 AB
Jose Reyes .238, 2 RBIs, 21 AB
David Wright .143, 3 RBIs, 21 AB
Carlos Beltran .067, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 15 AB
Ike Davis .000, 3 AB

Dempster vs. Mets (career: 4-3, 3.63 ERA)
Carlos Beltran .714, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 7 AB
David Wright .667, 3 AB
Jose Reyes .400, 1 RBI, 5 AB
Luis Castillo .167, 6 AB
Henry Blanco .000, 6 AB
Angel Pagan .000, 3 AB

Last series results:

Mets won 3-1 at Citi Field, April 19-22 (AP game recaps)

Mets 6, Cubs 1: Angel Pagan hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning for New York's first extra-base hit in three games and top prospect Ike Davis had an RBI single in his debut. In an offensive slump, New York called up the first baseman from Triple-A Buffalo. And Davis didn't disappoint, going 2-for-4 and following slumping Jason Bay's RBI double in the seventh with a run-scoring hit. Jon Niese allowed a run against the Cubs, who haven't been hitting either. Like the Mets, Chicago entered having scored five runs in the past two games. The Cubs shuffled their lineup against the left-handed Niese, moving Marlon Byrd into the leadoff spot and dropping Ryan Theriot to eighth. Xavier Nady and Aramis Ramirez flopped spots with Nady batting fourth, and Geovany Soto moved up to seventh. Niese went 5 2/3 innings and allowed eight hits and an unearned run, striking out seven. Fernando Nieve (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win after. Chicago's Randy Wells, who singled twice, only allowed a run himself, but the Mets rallied against the bullpen. Jose Reyes, who did not start and was in an 0-for-17 slump and hitting .154 since returning to lineup on April 10 after sitting several weeks because of a hyperactive thyroid, was hit by a pitch from James Russell (0-1) to start the seventh. Gary Matthews Jr. struck out after failing to sacrifice Reyes over before Pagan homered several rows into the seats in left-center for the Mets' first extra-base hit since Matthews doubled in the ninth inning three games earlier at St. Louis. The drought included New York's 20-inning win. Bay added an RBI double and after Jeff Francoeur reached on an error by third baseman Ramirez, Davis made it 5-1 Mets. Francoeur scored on Sean Marshall's wild pitch to make it 6-1. Davis will take over at first base for Mike Jacobs, who was designated for assignment. Byrd appeared comfortable in the top spot. He had three hits, driving in run in the sixth that tied it at 1. He was hit in the helmet with a pitch in the ninth by Jenrry Meija, but quickly picked up his helmet and ran to first. After Niese worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, Luis Castillo chopped an RBI single over Wells' head for a 1-0 lead in the bottom half. The Cubs scored an unearned run in the sixth. Niese walked Soto and Wells got his second hit with two outs in the inning to end Niese's night. Soto went to third on Wells' infield hit when Davis couldn't scoop Alex Cora's throw from shortstop out of the dirt. Byrd then greeted Nieve with a run-scoring infield single to tie it.

Mets 4, Cubs 0: Mike Pelfrey followed up a save with seven scoreless innings and Jose Reyes returned to the starting lineup and had a two-run triple among his four hits. The Mets took advantage of a two-out walk to Pelfrey in the second to score the game's first runs against a stingy Carlos Zambrano. Pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis had a two-run homer in the eighth inning. The punchless Cubs have lost four in a row, scoring just six runs during the skid. Mets prospect Ike Davis went 0-for-3 with a walk in his second big league game and made a nifty running catch behind first base in the fourth. His dad, former Yankees reliever Ron Davis, was in the crowd after not having enough time get to Citi Field from Arizona to see his son's debut the previous day. Pelfrey (3-0), who didn't allow a hit until Mike Fontenot's one-out single in the fifth, extended his scoreless streak to 19 innings, matching a career high. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six. He began a stretch of six splendid starts for New York's rotation his previous turn with seven shutout innings against Colorado. Pelfrey also picked up the team's first save of the season during the stretch, pitching the 20th inning of a 2-1 win over St. Louis. Reliever Ryota Igarashi strained his left hamstring when he slipped trying to retrieve Koyie Hill's bunt in front of the mound leading off the eighth for an error. Igarashi left after getting two outs. Fernando Nieve relieved with a runner on second and struck out Jeff Baker. Francisco Rodriguez finished the three-hitter by pitching the ninth. Reyes followed the second-inning walk to Pelfrey with a liner into left-center. He slid headfirst into third as the throw went home and popped up to one knee, grinning broadly and clapping several times. It was the sort of electric play the Mets have been waiting to see from their speedy shortstop, who missed all but 36 games last season with a hamstring injury and the beginning of April because of a hyperactive thyroid. His hit leading off the first snapped an 0-for-18 slide. Looking recovered from the cramps in his calf and right index finger that hindered his previous start, Zambrano (1-2) kept to form, following a subpar outing (five innings, four runs against Milwaukee) with a solid one. He struck out nine for the second time this season and gave up six hits, while covering plenty of ground stalking around the mound after his three walks.

Cubs 9, Mets 3: Carlos Silva added six crisp innings to his surprising comeback, Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets to snap a four-game skid. Silva (2-0) used his heavy sinker to put together his third straight quality start, yielding one run and two hits. He has allowed two earned runs in 19 innings for a microscopic 0.95 ERA in his first year with Chicago after two rocky seasons in Seattle. Another record-low Citi Field crowd watched as the Mets' late rally against Chicago's floundering bullpen ran out of gas. This time the announced attendance was 25,684, lower than the second-year ballpark's previous mark of 25,982 set April 8 for a game against Florida. Soriano finished with three hits and three RBIs for the Cubs. Marlon Byrd also drove in three runs and Ryan Theriot collected three singles, including a run-scoring hit in Chicago's three-run seventh. The Mets began the eighth with three consecutive hits off Sean Marshall, including slumping slugger David Wright's RBI single that got New York within three. But Justin Berg retired three straight to end the threat and Carlos Marmol got the final three outs. Concerned about a handful of slumping relievers, Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced before the game that ace right-hander Carlos Zambrano was moving to the bullpen. Rod Barajas hit his third homer for New York, which finished with six hits. Mets first baseman Ike Davis also turned in an outstanding catch in the first, tumbling over the dugout railing to grab Jeff Baker's popup. The Cubs acquired Silva and cash from the Mariners for Milton Bradley in a swap underperforming players in December. He won five games during two injury-plagued seasons with Seattle after signing a $48 million, four-year contract. Soriano tripled and scored on Geovany Soto's single in the fourth to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead off Odalis Perez (0-2). Soriano added an RBI single in the fifth and his second homer of the season in the seventh. The Mets placed reliever Ryota Igarashi on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and recalled fellow right-hander Manny Acosta from Triple-A Buffalo. Acosta allowed three runs and two hits in 1 1/3 innings against the Cubs. Cubs outfielder Xavier Nady received his 2009 World Series ring when New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman surprised him at Citi Field before the game.

Mets 5, Cubs 2: Johan Santana fought through mild trouble for six innings to keep the game scoreless before David Wright came through with an RBI double, and the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs for their first series win of the season. Jeff Francoeur broke an 0-for-24 slump with an RBI single in the Mets' four-run sixth. Ike Davis had three hits and New York took three of four from the Cubs after dropping its first four series this season. Francisco Rodriguez got five outs for his first save of the year. He entered with the bases loaded in the eighth and allowed a sacrifice fly before striking out pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin to end the inning. Tom Gorzelanny (0-2) showed no ill effects from being hit by a liner in the left arm in the third inning Saturday against Houston. He didn't allow a runner until a one-out walk in the fourth and gave up his first hit to Davis with one out in the fifth. One out later, Gorzelanny took a shoulder from Santana (2-1) as he was covering first on the pitcher's grounder. After the contact, Gorzelanny leaned over and put his hands on his knees for an extra moment. The Mets then nudged through in the sixth, led by the slumping middle of the order. Jose Reyes walked and was sacrificed over by Luis Castillo. Wright, 2-for-11 on the homestand with two strikeouts entering the sixth, doubled to left for the first run. Francoeur added an RBI single, his first hit since April 16. Davis followed with his second hit, ending Gorzelanny's night. James Russell walked Rod Barajas to load the bases. Mike Fontenot then failed to field Angel Pagan's chopper for an error, when he was distracted by Barajas running past the second baseman as the ball bounced at the edge of the grass and dirt. Two runs scored to make it 4-0. Gorzelanny gave up four hits and four runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Santana followed up seven scoreless innings on Saturday night, an outing that was overshadowed by the final 13 innings of the Mets' 20-inning win over St. Louis, with a gritty performance. He let the leadoff batter reach in four innings. Only one scored, with help from Francoeur's fielding error in the seventh. The Cubs put runners on third with one out after leadoff doubles in the second and third, and in the fourth had first and third with one out but Marlon Byrd was thrown out at home after getting caught in a rundown. In the sixth, Santana gave up a single before striking out the side. Geovany Soto singled to right-center to start the seventh and went to second when the ball deflected off a running Francoeur's glove for an error. He scored on Kosuke Fukudome's single that finished Santana. The Mets left-hander gave up a run and eight hits with five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter. Barajas added an RBI single in the eighth. Wright's double, his 225th, tied Ed Kranepool for most in Mets history. Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez extended his hitless series to 0-for-16 with a fielder's choice as a pinch hitter and struck out in the ninth.