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Desperate Mets turn to Santana

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:12 AM Florida (83-76) at NY Mets (88-72), 1:10 p.m. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- With the New York Mets fighting for their playoff lives, the team will ask their ace to pitch on three days rest.

Johan Santana will be on the mound as the Mets desperately need a win when they host the Florida Marlins on Saturday.

Rain is in the forecast for the game and the Mets' chances of making the postseason seem to be getting cloudier by the day. New York was defeated, 6-1, in the series opener and are now one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers (89-71) in the National League wild card race. The Mets are also two games back of the Philadelphia Phillies (90-70) in the NL East.

Santana (15-7, 2.64 ERA) has been everything New York could have hoped for when it traded for the former Cy Young award winner in the offseason, and the team needs him now the most. The lefthander has not lost since June 28 and is 6-0 with a 2.09 ERA in his last 11 starts.

The 29-year-old defeated the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, allowing two runs over eight innings while tying a season high with 10 strikeouts.

Florida, which eliminated New York on the last day of the regular season last year, seems poised to pull the trick off again.

Ricky Nolasco (15-7, 3.55), who hasn't lost since August 8, will be on the mound for the Marlins. The righthander gave up three runs over six innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Monday.