MLB

RYAN’S BEEN ALL RIGHT

The Mets knew Ryan Church was a good player. That’s why they traded top prospect Lastings Milledge to the Nationals this offseason for Church and catcher Brian Schneider.

Yet it would be tough to find anyone who thought Church would be this good.

Going into tonight’s game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field (7:05, SNY, WFAN), Church is batting .338, has an on-base percentage of .400 and has driven in 11 runs. He has started all 17 games in right field, and his consistency is a large part of what has helped the Mets win five of their prior six games and seven of their past 10.

In four previous major-league seasons, Church was a .275 hitter, with 17 more hits (270) than strikeouts (253). But batting second in a very potent Mets lineup has helped Church dramatically.

“I’m going to get a fastball to hit with David (Wright) behind me,” Church told mlb.com last week. “It’s a great feeling. Hopefully I’ll stay there in the future.”

If Church keeps producing the way he is now, it would be tough for Willie Randolph to change anything. Church is 11-for-28 (.393) and has scored 11 runs in his past seven games.

Although the team just missed a very vindicating three-game sweep of the Phillies last night with a 5-4 loss at Citizens Bank Park, Church had another productive performance. He went 1-for-4 and drove in the game-tying run in the sixth inning, singling to right to close a four-run Phillies lead.

“We were in the midst of giving it our best shot,” Church said after his team fell victim to Pedro Feliz’s pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning and a great defensive play by backup shortstop Eric Brunlett to end the game.

Wright said, “We had a golden opportunity, and we let it slip through our hands.”

For Church and the Mets, tonight is another city and another game in the long haul of a major-league season.

The 29-year-old Southern California native set career highs last year for games played (144) along with games played in the outfield (128). After last night’s nationally televised game in Philadelphia, which started at 8:05 ET, followed by tonight’s nationally televised game in Chicago, the grind of the season might eventually catch up to Church.

“I think it’s what makes you a success in this league,” Wright said, “in being able to deal with the highs and lows of the game, especially crazy travel schedules.”

Church is certainly on a high right now — it’s only to be seen if he can maintain it.

Pitching matchups:

Mets: RHP John Maine (1-1, 3.78 ERA). After a tough first start of the year, when Maine gave up four earned runs in four innings against the Braves on April 5, he has settled down, logging six-plus innings and giving up three combined runs in his past two starts. In two starts last year against the Cubs, he was 0-2 with a 10.57 ERA.

Cubs: RHP Carlos Zambrano (2-1, 3.04 ERA). The Cubs’ ace has had no trouble finding the strike zone this year, ranking 10th in the NL in strikeouts (23) compared to his three walks. He has a 3-1 career mark against the Mets with a 3.30 ERA, his prior start seeing him go eight innings in a 10-1 Cubs’ win on May 15 at Wrigley.

bcyrgalis@nypost.com