New York Mets

          Series preview: Mets vs. Braves

          NEW YORK METS (10-3, first place/NL East) vs. ATLANTA BRAVES (8-4, second place/NL East)

          Tuesday: LHP Jonathon Niese (1-0, 1.59) vs. RHP Trevor Cahill (0-1, 15.43), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Wednesday: RHP Dillon Gee (0-1, 7.59) vs. LHP Eric Stults (0-1, 6.30), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Thursday: RHP Bartolo Colon (3-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Julio Teheran (2-0, 3.71), 1:10 p.m. ET

          BRAVES SHORT HOPS

          • The Braves acquired Trevor Cahill from the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 3 for minor league outfielder Josh Elander. Cahill allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings last Tuesday against the Miami Marlins in his season debut. Arizona kicked in $6.8 million to cover more than half of Cahill’s $12 million salary. He was skipped the first turn through the rotation because the Braves did not require a fifth starter.

          • Left-handed reliever Andrew McKirahan was handed an 80-game suspension on Monday for a positive test for ipamorelin, a performance-enhancing drug that spurs the release of growth hormone. The rookie McKirahan was a Rule 5 pick of the Marlins in December. He was claimed off waivers by the Braves on April 1 when Miami initiated the process of returning the southpaw to the Chicago Cubs. Atlanta had fellow reliever Arodys Vizcaino suspended 80 games on April 2 for a positive test for stanozolol. That’s the same drug that tripped up Jenrry Mejia.

          • Julio Teheran allowed a career-high four homers against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

          • Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis went a combined 12-for-20 and scored nine times during a three-game weekend series at Toronto. Freeman has four homers in his past eight games. Markakis owns a .375 average. He succeeds Jason Heyward, who was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, in right field. Markakis signed a four-year, $44 million deal on Dec. 3. He has played 338 consecutive error-free games in the outfield, dating to Aug. 11, 2012. Darren Lewis owns the major league record for consecutive errorless games in the outfield, with 392 from 1990 to ’94 with the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.

          • Jason Grilli is tied with Jeurys Familia for the MLB saves lead at six. Grilli is perfect in save conversions. He had 33 saves with the Pittsburgh Pirates and earned an All-Star Game invitation in 2013. He ascended to the closer role for the Braves with the trade of Craig Kimbrel to the San Diego Padres on the eve of the season. Grilli signed a two-year, $8 million deal with a team option for the following season on Jan. 7. He went 1-5 with a 4.00 ERA last season and was 12-for-17 in save chances with the Pirates and Los Angeles Angels.

          • Ex-Met Eric Young Jr. is hitting only .182 (6-for-33). He made Atlanta’s Opening Day roster after signing a minor league deal late in the offseason.

          • The Braves signed right-handed reliever Mitchell Boggs to a minor league deal on Monday and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Boggs spent spring training with the Boston Red Sox.

          • Catcher Christian Bethancourt’s average has slipped to .154. A.J. Pierzynski has started three of the past five games behind the plate.