Mets-Pirates rained out, split doubleheader for Wednesday

PITTSBURGH — The game between the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates scheduled for Monday afternoon has been postponed due to rain.

The teams will play a split doubleheader Wednesday. The first game will be played at 12:35 p.m., with the second game set for 6:35 p.m.

The unexpected day off gives the NL East-leading Mets a chance to take a breath following consecutive losses to Washington over the weekend that allowed Atlanta to trim New York’s lead to just one game with a month to go.

Both teams decided to push their scheduled starting pitchers for Monday and Tuesday back a day.

New York’s Taijuan Walker (10-3, 3.45 ERA) will now face Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller (4-10, 4.43) on Tuesday.

New York ace Jacob deGrom (4-1, 1.98), who was originally scheduled to start Tuesday, will now start one of the two games Wednesday. Chris Bassitt (12-7, 3.32) will start the other game. There was no immediate decision on what order the pitchers will throw.

Pittsburgh will start Bryse Wilson (2-8, 6.12) and Yohan Oviedo (2-1, 2.86) in some order on Wednesday.

SCHERZER EXPECTS TO BE BACK FRIDAY

NEW YORK — Mets ace Max Scherzer said he was feeling fine Sunday, a day after he exited after a start after five innings because of fatigue on his left side.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner remained on schedule to start Friday night for NL East-leading New York at Miami.

Scherzer missed almost seven weeks earlier this season with a left oblique injury.

Of this fatigue, Scherzer offered a chuckle.

“It’s kind of like everywhere except the oblique,” he said before the Mets’ 7-1 loss to Washington.

Scherzer came out after 67 pitches Saturday against the Nationals. The 38-year-old righty allowed one run and three hits, striking out five and walking one. He got a no-decision in a game the Mets later lost 7-1.

Scherzer is 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 20 starts in his first season with the Mets. He has struck out 153 in 127 2⁄3innings.