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Injury-bitten Mets seek sixth straight behind Santana

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:41 AM NY Mets (67-56) at Pittsburgh (55-68), 1:35 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Johan Santana is well aware no lead is safe when the New York Mets' shoddy relief corps is involved. The ace has had a potential win erased by the bullpen in three of his last five starts and now will not be able to lean on Billy Wagner for longer than expected.

Santana takes the mound for the injury-bitten, yet rolling, Mets as they continue a four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday with hopes of extending their five-game winning streak.

The Mets received discouraging news late Saturday about Wagner, who has been sidelined since August 5 with a strained left forearm.

He threw 20 pitches in a simulated game earlier and felt discomfort in his pitching elbow. The 37-year-old will return to New York on Sunday for further evaluation.

"I wouldn't say I'm ready," Wagner told the Mets' official web site. "I'm guessing he'll say the elbow is inflamed and that once I get rid of the inflammation, I'll need some time to throw and get everything else up to speed."

The Mets' bullpen has struggled with Wagner on the DL, but the team has built a two-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (65-58) in the National League East.

Regardless, Santana (10-7, 2.89 ERA) has given the Mets plenty of chances to win. The lefthander has held opponents to three earned runs or less in nine of his past 10 starts, but has one victory to show for it.

Pittsburgh hasn't given Jeff Karstens (2-1, 1.23) much support, either. The newly acquired righthander tossed 15 scoreless innings over his first two outings with the club, but has gotten six runs in three games combined.

The 25-year-old, who was a part of the deal that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees before the non-waiver trade deadline, surrendered four runs - three earned - and seven hits in seven frames against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, getting tagged with the 5-1 loss.

Prior to that start, he came within four outs of a perfect game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.