Battle of the Old Home Town vs New

Mets left-hander Anthony Kay was among top prospect performers on Sunday.

Sunday's game between the Mets and Braves has been postponed due to rain. The teams will make the game up as part of a split-admission doubleheader on Memorial Day, May 28.

The Mets' choice to stay in the rotation instead of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler hopes to vindicate that decision when he starts Tuesday in St. Louis vs. the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Mets should also receive a boost from Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier, who were both scheduled for days of rest in Sunday's postponed game.

That the Mets chose to move Matt Harvey to the bullpen is at least partially a testament to their faith in Zack Wheeler, who will start the team's series finale today at SunTrust Park. Wheeler has delivered two consecutive quality starts since joining the rotation, most recently holding the Nationals to three runs in six innings. He'll oppose right-hander Mike Foltynewicz in a 1:35 p.m. ET matinee.

The Mets' early bullpen success disguised the fact that two key relievers, AJ Ramos and Jerry Blevins, had not seen much success. Those two and Jeurys Familia all faltered Saturday in the late innings of the Mets' 4-3, walk-off loss to the Braves at SunTrust Park.

Typical day at the ballpark.

The Mets on Saturday optioned Gerson Bautista to Double-A Binghamton, recalling right-hander Corey Oswalt from Triple-A Las Vegas to take his place. Bautista appeared in two games with the Mets in his first taste of the big leagues, allowing two runs in 2 1/3 innings. He averaged 96 mph on his fastball and topped out at 98 -- both down from reports of triple-digit heat last summer.

To make room for the return of left-hander Jason Vargas, who is starting in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, Matt Harvey has been informed that the club will move him to the bullpen, according to manager Mickey Callaway.

The last time Jacob deGrom took the mound, he became the first Mets starter to throw a pitch in the eighth inning. The Mets ultimately lost that game, but deGrom will look for similar efficiency when he starts tonight at 7:10 ET at SunTrust Park. Julio Teheran pitches for the Braves.

Yoenis Cespedes' struggles at the plate have not dissipated much, but the Mets continue plugging him in their lineup. They know he'll bust out of his slump eventually. And they also know he continues to come up with key hits in spite of it.

A day after Matt Harvey submitted his worst start of the young season, declaring afterward that he is "a starting pitcher" and declining to answer if he would accept a Minor League assignment, the Mets spent significant time on Friday discussing what to do with him.

All hail the king.

An unquestioned member of the team's rotation heading into the season, Matt Harvey has since started four games, struggled thrice and, on Thursday, pitched poorly enough at SunTrust Park that the Braves effectively iced their 12-4 win before sunset.

The Mets fleshed out their organizational depth with a pair of former big league starters this week, inking Vance Worley and Scott Copeland to Minor League contracts. The team also released another former big leaguer, A.J. Griffin.

The Mets will look to build some momentum Friday behind Noah Syndergaard, who has been effective but inefficient in four starts this season. The Mets' Opening Day starter has 33 strikeouts and five walks in 21 1/3 innings, but has yet to throw a pitch in the seventh inning of a game.

There are plenty of new faces in the National League East. Some of them have had a major impact on their team's success the first three weeks of the season. Others have not. Here is a look at some of the most notable newcomers in the NL East entering Thursday.

Mets prospects David Peterson and Quinn Brodey were among top performers on Wednesday.

The Mets entered the eighth inning staring at the possibility of a sweep at home at the hands of the rival Nationals, but the lineup erupted for nine runs in the eighth inning to win the finale of a three-game set. Yoenis Cespedes' grand slam capped the outburst. Ryan Zimmerman hit two homers and tripled for the Nationals.

Allowing four runs in five innings in each of his last two starts, Matt Harvey will look to improve -- and to solidify his rotation status with Jason Vargas nearing a return from the disabled list -- when he starts the Mets' series opener Thursday at 7:35 p.m. ET in Atlanta. The Braves' originally scheduled starter, Anibal Sanchez, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a right leg injury.

Lingering oblique discomfort has prompted Mets reliever Anthony Swarzak to pause his throwing program, also putting a trip to Florida on hold.