Baseball

Marcum bounced back nicely from a three-run first and ended up striking out a season-high seven. Alas, it wasn't enough with the Mets managing just three runs on the night. Marcum will get the Braves next, making him a weak play in NL-only leagues.

Worse, he made a boneheaded play in the first, getting called for interference and giving two baserunners extra bases. The Mets have been extremely patient with Davis, but one wonders just how much longer that can last.

Byrd has an ugly 34/6 K/BB ratio in 105 at-bats this season, but his average is a solid .269 and he's driven in 19 runs, which is quite impressive for a guy who has started just 25 games and has often hit behind Ike Davis.

Francisco was diagnosed with a mild strain of the flexor pronator in his right elbow last week, but he's already back at it. However, it's not clear if he's throwing from a mound or simply playing catch or long-tossing. Either way, he's not close to rejoining the Mets' bullpen.

The Mets have tried moving Davis back to cleanup in an effort to change his mindset and get his bat going, but it hasn't worked. The 26-year-old first baseman is batting just .156/.238/.259 through 40 games this season.

Aardsma had been in negotiations with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League but ultimately decided to remain in the United States. The 31-year-old right-hander will try to work his way up to New York this season. He has made one appearance in the major leagues since the start of the 2010 campaign due to Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.

Brown suffered an oblique injury Sunday and is out indefinitely. He was considered the top candidate to replace the struggling Ike Davis, but is now looking at missing extended time. Mets GM Sandy Alderson insists that a demotion for Davis is "not imminent."