McNeil savoring his ‘perfect’ week

CHICAGO — Jeff McNeil will be hard-pressed to have a better week in his life. On Sunday, the Mets utilityman was selected to his second All-Star game. Three days later, at 4:45 a.m., his son, Lucas, came into the world. It was the first child for McNeil and his wife, Tatiana. “Perfect,” McNeil said before the Mets’ 8-0 win over the Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field, when asked to describe the week. “They have been pretty magical [days] — making an AllStar game and the birth of our child is pretty special, so I couldn’t ask for a better few days.”

McNeil was removed from the paternity list and started in left field. His return, and that of Starling Marte (he had missed four straight starts with left groin tightness), gave the Mets a full lineup for the first time since last Saturday. McNeil went 1-for-4 with a walk, while Marte was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.

Lucas McNeil is expected to reunite with his dad next week in Los Angeles at the All-Star Game. McNeil will join Marte, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz in representing the Mets.

➤ Taijuan Walker spent Wednesday night at Marcus Stroman’s home. Among the topics was their scheduled pitching matchup on Friday. The right-handers were teammates with the Mets last season.

“It would be more fun if we were hitting so we could hit against each other,” Walker said. “But it will be a fun little matchup: See who can go out there and go further and have a better stat line.”

Stroman received a three-year contract worth $71 million from the Cubs after the Mets didn’t make a serious offer to retain him. Stroman pitched to a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts last season and became the staff ace after Jacob deGrom was sidelined.

Stroman has a 4.91 ERA in 10 starts this season. He spent more than a month on the injured list with a shoulder injury, returning last weekend against the Dodgers to pitch four scoreless innings.