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Mets to lean on offense with Wagner out

Aug 20, 2008 - 6:34 AM Atlanta (56-70) at Ny Mets (69-57) 7:10 pm. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets may need their offense to do the heavy lifting now that All-Star closer Billy Wagner is out indefinitely.

Carlos Delgado looks to continue to break out of his funk and help the Mets to their eighth win in nine games against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

Delgado snapped an 0-for-12 skid with a two-run double during a five-run eighth inning as New York rallied for a 7-3 victory on Tuesday. The 36-year-old first baseman has slowed down since a blistering July, but the Mets hope he is about to get red-hot again.

It would certainly ease the burden on the bullpen. The Mets (69-57) lead Philadelphia (67-58) by 1 1/2 games in the National League East, but they won't have Wagner to close games some time after it was revealed that he has inflammation in his left elbow.

The bullpen may be busy again with Mike Pelfrey (11-8, 3.91 ERA) on the hill. Pelfrey has been effective, but is approaching his career high of 152 2/3 innings set last season. The 24-year-old threw 98 pitches in seven scoreless innings of a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday.

Pelfrey is 9-2 with a 3.80 ERA in his last 12 starts. He faces another promising righthander in Jair Jurrgens (11-8, 3.15), who has beaten the Mets twice, allowing four earned runs over 13 innings. Jurrgens is 1-3 with a 3.66 ERA in his last four starts.

The 21-year-old will try and help the Braves avoid their third straight loss, and eighth in nine games.