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METS (13-9, third place/NL East) vs. HOUSTON ASTROS (8-14, fifth place/NL Central)

Monday: RHP R.A. Dickey (3-1, 4.44) vs. RHP Bud Norris (1-1, 5.84), 8:05 p.m. ET

Tuesday: LHP Jon Niese (2-0, 2.81) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (1-1, 4.70), 8:05 p.m. ET

Wednesday: RHP Chris Schwinden (0-0, 11.25) vs. LHP Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 1.72), 2:05 p.m. ET

Astros short hops

• The Astros, who debuted as a member of the National League alongside the Mets in 1962, originally as the Colt .45s, move to the American League West next season as part of the conditions of Jim Crane's purchase of the team from Drayton McLane. Crane received a $65 million purchase credit to balance the leagues at 15 teams apiece.

As for Astros fans’ negative reaction to the AL move, Crane told The Houston Chronicle: “I think it's calmed down considerably once people understand that was our destiny. That's the way baseball had decided -- whoever owned the Astros was going to be in the American League. You can argue anything I guess, but what they did does make some sense for baseball. When you look at the two Texas teams, it evens out that, keeps the Rangers from traveling more. Our TV partner Comcast feels it's a stronger deal for us with the East Coast teams like Detroit and Cleveland and some of the old traditional teams -- the Yankees and Boston. And we're going to do better on the network because of that.

“The downside that we'll see is the DH and a little more travel. And we'll try to get games scheduled so that when we get getaway games they'll be in the afternoon, so you're not going to see that many late-night games.”

• The Astros have lost six straight series, the latest secured with a 6-5 loss at Cincinnati in Sunday’s rubber game.

• Diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve is among the league’s hottest hitters. The 5-foot-5 Altuve went 3-for-5 Sunday to lift his average to .373. That trails only Matt Kemp (.425) and David Wright (.397) in the National League. Altuve, who turns 22 next Sunday, is the shortest player in the majors this season. He has runner-up Alexi Amarista of the Los Angeles Angels beat by two inches. Altuve had been the second-youngest too, behind Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Drew Hutchison. But 19-year-old Bryce Harper and 20-year-old Mike Trout just made their major league debut/return. Altuve began last season at Class A Lancaster, but made his major league debut July 20 after jumping from Double-A.

• The Astros acquired shortstop Jed Lowrie and right-hander Kyle Weiland from the Boston Red Sox on Dec. 14 for right-handed reliever Mark Melancon, Houston’s 2011 saves leader with 20. Lowrie opened the season the disabled list with a sprained right thumb. He made his Astros debut April 13. Weiland (0-3, 6.62 ERA) landed on the DL with shoulder bursitis, and Jordan Lyles was promoted for a spot start Sunday. Lyles was returned to the minors postgame.

• Catcher Jason Castro, the 10^th overall pick in the 2008 draft, out of Stanford, missed last season while recovering from right knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. He also missed two games last week with a neck issue after a plate collision with Milwaukee’s Mat Gamel. Castro returned Friday. Opponents have been successful in all 13 steal attempts against Castro this season.

• Carlos Lee left Friday’s game in the first inning with a left ankle sprain, which he suffered pursuing a low throw from third baseman Chris Johnson that eluded him at first base. X-rays were negative, but Lee (.273, 2 HR, 13 RBIs) likely will remain sidelined at least early in the Mets series. Lee exclusively has played first base this season, after splitting time evenly between that position and left field a season ago. Matt Downs has filled in at first base in Lee’s absence. J.D. Martinez is now the full-time left fielder.

• Backup infielder Marwin Gonzalez spent the weekend on paternity leave, but was activated for Monday’s series opener in the roster spot Lyles held for a day.

• Wandy Rodriguez has a 1.72 ERA in five starts.

• Bud Norris allowed seven runs in his last start, including two-run homers to Milwaukee’s Travis Ishikawa and Corey Hart.

• Closer Brett Myers is 4-for-4 in save chances.

• Right-hander Rhiner Cruz (1-0, 2.08 ERA) is Rule 5 pick from Metsm who is drawing rave reviews from scouts because of his 98 mph fastball from a “weird,” low arm slot. Cruz, who was not protected on the Mets’ 40-man roster, opened eyes with Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, before the December draft. He posted a 1.47 ERA in 18 1/3 innings over 21 relief appearances in winter ball. Cruz has not appeared since last Monday because of a twisted an ankle. Cruz, 25, had control issues last season between Class A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton in the Mets organization. He walked 45 and hit seven batters in 71 2/3 innings.

• Fernando Martinez, who was claimed off waivers by the Astros from the Mets during the offseason, is hitting .318 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 22 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He primarily has played left field, while being assigned to DH the past two games.

• Ex-Brave Jordan Schafer was ejected Sunday after disputing a caught-stealing call by ump Marvin Hudson in the second inning. Before that, the 25-year-old center fielder extended his streak of reaching base at least once to 22 games, the longest to open a season by an Astro since Ricky Gutierrez had a 23-game streak in 1998. Denis Menke owns the franchise record -- 25 games in 1969.

• Ex-Mets/Astros outfielder Richard Hidalgo is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Monday’s series opener.

Matchups

Dickey vs. Astros (career: 1-2, 3.82 ERA)
Travis Buck .667, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 PA
Jason Castro .667, 3 PA
Jed Lowrie .500, 1 RBI, 3 PA
Matt Downs .500, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 PA
Jordan Schafer .429, 1 K, 7 PA
Carlos Lee .381, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 K, 21 PA
Chris Johnson .286, 1 RBI, 14 PA
Brian Bixler .200, 1 K, 5 PA
Chris Snyder .000, 1 BB, 1 K, 6 PA

Niese vs. Astros (career: 1-1, 1.80 ERA)
Brian Bixler .333, 2 K, 6 PA
Chris Johnson .333, 1 RBI, 6 PA
Carlos Lee .250, 1 RBI,1 BB, 9 PA
Jordan Schafer .000, 2 K, 8 PA
Jason Castro .000, 3 PA
Chris Snyder .000, 1 K, 2 PA

Schwinden vs. Astros (career: never faced)

Norris vs. Mets (career: 1-1, 4.85 ERA)
Daniel Murphy .333, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, 6 PA
Justin Turner .333, 1 K, 3 PA
Josh Thole .250, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 10 PA
Ike Davis .250, 1 BB, 2 K, 9 PA
Scott Hairston .200, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 6 PA
David Wright .000, 3 BB, 4 K, 12 PA
Andres Torres .000, 1 K, 3 PA

Happ vs. Mets (career: 2-2, 4.82 ERA)
Mike Nickeas .500, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 PA
David Wright .462, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 15 PA
Andres Torres .333, 1 RBI, 1 K, 3 PA
Scott Hairston .333, 1 K, 3 PA
Daniel Murphy .286, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K, 7 PA
Justin Turner .200, 1 RBI, 5 PA
Ike Davis .000, 1 RBI, 2 PA

Rodriguez vs. Mets (career: 3-2, 2.91 ERA)
Scott Hairston .462, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 15 PA
Justin Turner .333, 3 PA
David Wright .316, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 21 PA
Andres Torres .000, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 PA
Ike Davis .000, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 PA
Josh Thole .000, 1 BB, 3 PA

Last series results

Mets won, 2-1, at Minute Maid Park, May 13-15, 2011 (AP game recaps)

Mets 6, Astros 4: David Wright hit a go-ahead homer to cap a four-run eighth inning that rallied the Mets. Wright's two-run shot was the last of three late homers by the Mets that helped them overcome a 4-0 deficit for their sixth win in eight games. Jason Bay got New York going with a solo shot in the seventh and pinch-hitter Fernando Martinez cut it to 4-3 with a long, two-run drive in the eighth. Jose Reyes walked and, with two outs, Wright homered off reliever Jeff Fulchino (0-1) into the Crawford Boxes in left field to put New York on top. It was the sixth home run of the season for the slumping Wright, who had been given the previous day off in Colorado to rest a sore neck and back.

Astros 7, Mets 3: Carlos Lee delivered his 2,000th hit with an RBI single during a four-run first inning. Lee also hit one of three Astros homers. J.A. Happ (3-4) pitched six innings for the win, scattering five hits and three walks. Michael Bourn tripled to open the game against knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey (1-5) and scored on a groundout by Clint Barmes. Hunter Pence and Lee followed with singles, and three more runs scored on a double by Brett Wallace and singles by Chris Johnson and Bill Hall. Dickey allowed six hits in the first inning, then held the Astros in check until the sixth, when Hall and pinch hitter Matt Downs hit solo homers. Dickey pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed 11 hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out two. Lee became the 17th active player to reach 2,000 hits, and he is the ninth active player to have at least that many hits while also belting 300 or more home runs. The Mets got one run in the third when Jose Reyes doubled and scored on a single to right field by Justin Turner, then added another in the fourth, when Daniel Murphy led off the inning with his third homer of the season. Reyes had an RBI single off reliever Mark Melancon in the ninth. Carlos Beltran sat out the game with swelling in his right eye.

Mets 7, Astros 4: Justin Turner homered and drove in a career-high five runs and Jason Pridie hit a go-ahead single and stole home for the Mets. Chris Capuano (3-4) allowed six hits and two runs in five innings. He struck out six. Aneury Rodriguez (0-2) didn't allow a hit until the fifth, but finished with five earned runs and four walks in his third major league start. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th straight save. He has not allowed a run in 14 appearances since April 14.

Right-hander Elvin Ramirez had opened eyes during the 2010-11 winter-ball season in his native Dominican Republic while compiling a 1.85 ERA for Gigantes del Cibao in 20 relief appearances.

So during the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings that December, while the Mets were selecting Pedro Beato from the Orioles and Brad Emaus from the Blue Jays, the Nationals were grabbing Ramirez from the Mets.

Ramirez, now 24, never did pitch while spending nearly a full year with the Nationals. He had developed a shoulder issue while wowing in winter ball that ultimately led to late-March 2011 shoulder surgery while temporarily Washington property.

The Nats eventually returned him to the Mets in mid-October. They could have carried him into this season with the Rule 5 provisions still in place, but chose to no longer tie up the 40-man roster spot.

So now, after a full season away from the organization, which he primarily spent rehabbing at the Nationals’ spring-training complex in Viera, Fla., Ramirez is back with the Mets and again opening eyes.

“I was in-between,” said Ramirez, who spent plenty of time with Washington pitcher and fellow Dominican Atahaulpa Severino during the lost season at the Nats’ complex. “I was hurt, so I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was waiting for whatever was going to happen.”

So far this season, Ramirez has tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings over five relief appearances for Double-A Binghamton. He has struck out a gaudy 15 Eastern League batters while surrendering three hits and five walks.

Ramirez’s velocity sat at 93-94 mph in a recent outing, still shy of the 94-96 mph he tossed pre-shoulder issue. But the results speak for themselves. And the velocity has been creeping upward since Ramirez’s first B-Mets outing, on April 6.

“One of the things I heard when he got Rule 5’d by the Nationals was that winter he was throwing extremely hard,” B-Mets manager Pedro Lopez said. “His fastball was up to 99, 98 mph. After the injury he suffered -- he sat out last year -- the velocity is coming back slowly. I think in spring training he was throwing 90, 92. There’s been a couple of times here where he’s topped out at 96. Some of the pitching coaches that have seen him in the past say he looks healthy, and they think his fastball is going to come back again.

“But it’s been impressive right now. He throws a fastball, slider and changeup. Right now they’re pretty good. The thing I remember of Elvin from Savannah in 2008, he had the makings of a good changeup. Now he’s got a really good changeup. And he throws it to right-handed hitters. I think that makes him real effective.”

Organization leaders

Average: T.J. Rivera, Savannah, .406; Bobby Scales, Buffalo, .377; Josh Rodriguez, Binghamton, .365; Jefry Marte, Binghamton, .356; Zach Lutz, Buffalo, .333; Wilfredo Tovar, St. Lucie, .321; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, .316; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, .315; Danny Muno, St. Lucie, .294; Cory Vaughn, St. Lucie, .291.

Homers: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 6.

RBI: Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 15; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 15; Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 14; Danny Muno, St. Lucie, 12.

Steals: Danny Muno, St. Lucie, 4; Luis Nieves, Savannah, 4; Josh Rodriguez, Binghamton, 4.

ERA: Darin Gorski, Binghamton, 1.13; Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 1.23; Collin McHugh, Bighamton, 1.59; Tyler Pill, Savannah, 1.76; Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 1.80; Jeremy Hefner, Buffalo, 1.96; Rafael Montero, Savannah, 1.99; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 2.05; Mark Cohoon, Binghamton, 2.05; Domingo Tapia, Savannah, 2.55.

Wins: Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 3; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 3.

Saves: Fernando Cabrera, Buffalo, 4; Adam Kolarek, St. Lucie, 3; Josh Edgin, Buffalo, 2; Jeffrey Kaplan, St. Lucie, 2; Adrian Rosario, St. Lucie, 2.

Strikeouts: Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 24; Jeurys Familia, Buffalo, 23; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 22; Domingo Tapia, Savannah, 20.

Short hops

• Sean Ratliff, who was struck in the eye with a foul ball during spring training in 2011 off the bat of Zach Lutz, has retired. Ratliff, a fourth-round pick in 2008 out of Stanford, plans to head back to school to complete his education. He underwent four surgeries last year and attempted a comeback this season with Class A St. Lucie. But the outfielder was 3-for-22 with 10 strikeouts and could not overcome the vision deficiencies.

• Left-handed reliever Daniel Herrera is due to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. The injury helped fuel the promotion of fellow lefty Josh Edgin from Binghamton to Buffalo.

Edgin, 25, impressed in spring training and officially was added to major league camp after starting on the minor league side. He struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut Monday at Lehigh Valley. Edgin will be exposed to different types of situations with the Bisons to ready him for the majors -- from save opportunities, to entering mid-inning for lefty-on-lefty matchups, to working two-inning appearances. The Lehigh Valley in-stadium gun, which may be slightly slow, clocked Edgin’s fastball at 92 mph in his Buffalo debut. He also showed a tight slider.

The Mets actually have two viable lefty relief options with the Bisons. Chuck James has tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, albeit with five walks.

So why was left-hander Robert Carson the one promoted to the majors Tuesday after Mike Pelfrey was placed on the DL? Well, he’s the one on the 40-man roster. And the call-up is only intended for the Marlins series, after which Carson is expected to be replaced by presumed Friday starter Chris Schwinden.

• Outfielder Dustin Martin made his Triple-A Buffalo debut Tuesday night. Martin, originally a 26^th-round pick by the Mets in 2006 out of Sam Houston State, was sent to the Twins with Drew Butera when the Mets originally acquired Luis Castillo. Martin was released by Minnesota at the end of spring training in March. He hit .265 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs in 490 at-bats last season with Triple-A Rochester.

• Matt Harvey possessed the best curveball of any of his Triple-A starts while limiting Syracuse to three runs on four hits and three walks in six innings Friday. Harvey, who notched his first Triple-A win, struck out Nationals phenom Bryce Harper twice and also walked him in three plate appearances.

Harper got vengeance on fellow prospect Jeurys Familia the following day, though. After Familia had retired nine straight Syracuse batters, Harper launched his first Triple-A homer. Familia nonetheless was efficient in the outing while striking out eight in a 93-pitch effort over five innings. Harper’s solo homer was the lone run allowed by Familia.

• Bisons right fielder Adam Loewen has been sidelined since being pulled from Friday’s game. He is wearing a boot on his right foot. The injury happened early in the season and had been nagging Loewen. The half-inning before he departed, Loewen felt discomfort tracking a ball in the right-center gap. The next half-inning, while being thrown out by Harper on a play at the plate, manager Wally Backman noticed Loewen had difficulty accelerating. Loewen, who was beaten out by Mike Baxter for the lefty-hitting backup outfield job with the Mets, was hitting .270 with three homers in 37 at-bats with the Bisons.

• Dylan Owen, during a spot start Monday while Jeremy Hefner had a major league cameo, not only tossed 4 2/3 effective innings, he became the first Buffalo pitched in 18 years to homer.

• Valentino Pascucci has a nine-game hitting streak and Vinny Rottino has a seven-game hitting streak with the Bisons.

• Mike Nickeas is 1-for-14 this season for the Mets. And if the Mets dip to the minors to make a change at some point for Josh Thole’s complement, ex-Mariner/Padre Rob Johnson might be the alternative. Still, Johnson is hitting only .214 through 42 at-bats with the Bisons. And fellow Triple-A catcher Lucas May is hitting only .139. The Mets could scour the waiver wire, too. But with catching at a premium in MLB, it may be doubtful something attractive becomes available.

• Middle infielder Josh Rodriguez, a late spring-training pickup by the Mets after his release from the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been named the Double-A Eastern League Player of the Week. Rodriguez, 27, was the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft in December 2010 that also involved Ramirez, Beato and Emaus. He appeared in seven games for the Pirates last season. Rodriguez is hitting .365 with two homers and 10 RBIs for the B-Mets. His signing was influenced by Paul DePodesta, and with a promise of a potentially quick move to Triple-A. Rodriguez’s action at shortstop should increase with teammate Sean Kazmar landing on Binghamton’s DL with an oblique injury.

• First baseman Allan Dykstra, who arrived at the end of spring training in 2011 from the Padres in a swap for reliever Eddie Kunz, headed home to California for five weeks after fracturing his left forearm reaching for a throw from pitcher Darin Gorski. Dykstra will be limited to riding a bicycle during that span. He suffered a similar injury earlier in his career with San Diego and suffered ligament damage. The bone damage is a less difficult road back. Eric Campbell is now manning first base for the B-Mets.

• The Mets released right-hander Eric Beaulac, a ninth-round pick in 2008 out of LeMoyne (N.Y.) College.

• Outfielder Darrell Ceciliani had a short-lived return to St. Lucie’s active roster. After an 11-day absence, Ceciliani injured his hamstring retreating to catch a fly ball Sunday, in his second game back. He previously had been on the DL with a right groin injury. In his six Florida State League games this season, the former New York-Penn League batting champ is hitting .346.

• Left-hander Chase Huchingson’s dominating start to the season for St. Lucie, which included a 3-0 record and 17½-inning scoreless streak, abruptly came to a halt Tuesday night when he allowed two first-inning runs against Fort Myers. Still, Huchingson’s acquisition is a success story. Scout Max Semler liked Huchingson’s arm and signed him as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Central Arkansas in 2010 after spotting him playing outfield and pitching in an obscure summer league. Huchingson’s fastball sits between 90 and 92 mph.

• Right-handers Kyle Allen and Erik Goeddel made their season debuts for St. Lucie during the past week. Goeddel, a UCLA product, was treated slowly in readying for the season after dealing with shoulder issues last year that limited him to 15 games with Savannah. He allowed a solo homer to rehabbing Cardinal Allen Craig but no other damage in three innings, in the resumption of a suspended game. Goeddel now is expected to enter what should be a six-man St. Lucie rotation.

• Cory Vaughn had an inside-the-park homer for St. Lucie. He has a .391 on-base percentage.

• Mets officials are very pleased with 20-year-old Wilfredo Tovar’s play at shortstop for St. Lucie. Compared with Ruben Tejada because both have solid instincts at the position, Tovar may have a better arm and hands.

• Right-hander Logan Verrett, the third-round pick last June out of Baylor, landed on the Savannah DL, but already was due to resume throwing.

• A pair of farmhands removed from the 40-man roster by the Mets and claimed by other organizations are off to strong starts. Fernando Martinez is hitting .294 with three homers for Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Astros organization. He primarily is playing left field. Right-hander Josh Stinson, claimed at the end of spring training by the Brewers, is 3-1 with a 3.57 ERA and one save at Double-A Huntsville and is now being groomed as a starter. He went a season-high 4 2/3 innings Tuesday night.

• Ex-Met Nelson Figueroa has latched on with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.

Adam Rubin’s farm report appears Wednesdays during the regular season

R.A. Dickey took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and the Mets beat the Houston Astros, 8-2, Thursday at Digital Domain Park.

Dickey said he only became aware he had held Houston without a hit when the crowd began applauding once the knuckleballer allowed a single to the second batter he faced in the sixth inning, Justin Ruggiano. The no-hit bid had been preserved an inning earlier when third baseman Lucas May made a diving stop toward the line on Jason Castro’s grounder and threw to first base in time.

Dickey ultimately allowed one run while walking three, surrendering just the one hit, and striking out four in 6 1/3 innings.

The Mets -- who have had no in-season no-hitters -- tossed one in spring training in 1965, by Gary Kroll and Gordie Richardson. (Howie Rose notes that Richardson was the last player to wear No. 41 with the Mets before Tom Seaver.)

“I just wanted to feel good getting up and getting back down,” said Dickey, whose last outing was cut short a week earlier after two perfect innings because of a rain delay. “Part of the process of this is, ‘How do you feel after you’ve sat down and gotten back up to go out there after the fifth and sixth innings?’ I got to do that today and I’m glad about that.”

As for when he became aware of the no-hit bid, Dickey said: “I did once people were clapping [following the single]. I was like, ‘What are they doing?’ And then I saw. … Usually, like last year, after the sixth I knew it on a couple of occasions -- or maybe one occasion in particular late in the season. So I’m not saying I’m totally [unaware]. But it’s spring training and it’s just kind of a different atmosphere. I was executing what I wanted to do and that was most important to me, so I didn’t really think about it.”

Dickey’s performance came a day after Johan Santana limited the St. Louis Cardinals to one run and six hits in six innings. The day before that, Dillon Gee did not allow a run in 5 2/3 innings against the Washington Nationals.

“I think having Johan kind of as the figurehead of the staff, it may take some pressure off some guys that don’t feel like they have to do more than they’re capable of doing,” Dickey said. “It allows people to slot where they maybe need to slot.”

(Read full post)

The Mets' complex is closed today -- for major and minor leaguers -- allowing for a near-48-hour break before the big leaguers regroup for a Tuesday night game against the Washington Nationals at Digital Domain Park. So all of the action today should be in lower Manhattan, where jury selection and opening statements are expected to begin in the clawback lawsuit against Fred Wilpon and family brought by the trustee trying to recover funds for victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

Monday's news reports:

• Richard Sandomir and Ken Belson in the Times wonder if the Wilpons might settle soon, for some number between the $83 million for which the judge has indicated they likely already are on the hook and the maximum $386 million with the most adverse outcome from the district-court round of the trial. Write Sandomir and Belson:

Mario M. Cuomo, a former New York governor who is the mediator in the case, has attended hearings but there has been no palpable optimism about a deal. Asked Sunday if a settlement could come as early as Monday, he said by telephone, “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.” He said that his goal in meeting with the sides had been to reach a settlement which could theoretically come at any point during the trial. Any settlement would logically be between $83 million and $386 million. The Mets might think that they could afford to pay a potential settlement in the neighborhood of $165 million. Still, producing a lot of cash quickly might be difficult.

• Tim Byrdak returned to camp five days after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and said that while Opening Day is a "long shot," the team's projected six-week absence is way too conservative. Read more in the Star-Ledger.

• Mike Pelfrey allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings Sunday against the Houston Astros, as the Mets' Grapefruit League winless streak increased to nine games. Pelfrey said he was trying to overthrow to get his arm strength up for fastballs during the season, and his sinker control suffered as a result. Read more in the Post, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Daily News, Journal and Record.

• David Wright, working his way back from an abdominal tear, hit off a tee and swung at soft flips Sunday. Meanwhile, Terry Collins said Ruben Tejada (groin) should be in the lineup Tuesday night. The manager hopes to see D.J. Carrasco (ankle) and Pedro Beato (shoulder) on a mound soon.

Wright told columnist Kevin Kernan in the Post that he's certain he will be ready for Opening Day on April 5 at Citi Field. "Each day I get better and better and I’m doing more and more,’’ Wright told Kernan. “I think I got lucky where I did it so early in camp [so] I had the luxury of waiting and being patient, and I haven’t had any setbacks. I’m at the point now where I’m feeling good, but I can’t go out there and overextend myself and set me back."

• Fernando Martinez struck out three times and walked in four plate appearances against his former club. F-Mart said he was surprised by being placed on waivers by the Mets during the offseason, but insisted he had no bitterness toward his former employer. Read more in Newsday, the Daily News and Post.

• Outfielder Cesar Puello and right-hander Jeremy Hefner were optioned to minor league camp after Sunday's game, reducing the number of players in camp to 40. Puello, who turns 21 on April 1, hit .259 with 10 homers last season at Class A St. Lucie. Hefner was claimed off waivers by the Mets during the offseason after going 9-7 with a 4.98 ERA for San Diego's Triple-A affiliate last season. Hefner could be exposed to waivers again in the next two weeks with the Mets needing to clear as many as three 40-man roster spots, for backup outfielders and a lefty relief specialist in Byrdak's absence.

• The Mets' top two minor league affiliates lost exhibition games to Marlins farmhands Sunday.

• Mike Kerwick in the Record looks at the range of Mets on Twitter. Josh Thole had a bad experience last season and dropped it, but the list of participants is growing. The latest addition: Byrdak (@Givemethelefty). Sandy Alderson (@MetsGM), by the way, has been idle since a Feb. 28 tweet about his dog, Buddy Alderson.

TRIVIA: For which former public official is the lower Manhattan courthouse where the Wilpon-Madoff trial is due to take place named?

Sunday's answer: The eight players to start for the Mets in right field last season were Carlos Beltran (91 games), Lucas Duda (38), Scott Hairston (11), Mike Baxter (7), Jason Pridie (6), Nick Evans (4), Willie Harris (3) and Martinez (2).

Carlos Lee had a two-run double and three-run homer and Jed Lowrie added a two-run double versus Mike Pelfrey, all in the first two innings, and Houston beat the Mets, 9-5, Sunday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium.

The Mets head into an organization-wide off-day Monday winless in their past nine Grapefruit League games.

Pelfrey, making his third spring-training start, allowed eight earned runs on eight hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings while tossing 80 pitches (47 strikes). He struck out four batters, after having not fanned any in his first two Grapefruit League outings, which spanned seven innings.

The eight runs allowed by Pelfrey were one shy of his regular-season career high, done twice in 2009, against the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates.

“It’s bad execution,” Pelfrey said. “Obviously I’ve been up a lot. And the ball doesn’t sink when it’s up. The other part is, like Carlos Lee there, it was right down the middle.”

The Mets tendered the arbitration-eligible Pelfrey a contract last offseason. The right-hander then settled with the organization for $5.7 million. Pelfrey is under the Mets’ control through the 2013 season, but will be a logical non-tender candidate next December if he does not improve on last season’s performance, which included a 4.74 ERA and career-high 21 homers allowed.

After registering only 87 mph in his previous outing, Pelfrey said he overthrew the ball Sunday, trying to up his velocity. The staff had asked him to throw harder to get his arm strong for the season.

Pelfrey said he ended up “yanking” his sinker as a result -- meaning he did not get on top of the baseball to drive it downward. Instead, Pelfrey explained, he created more of a Frisbee action by getting on the side of the baseball and not finishing the pitch. It stayed flat and in the middle of the strike zone.

That’s what happened when Pelfrey grooved to Lee a down-the-middle two-seam fastball that was intended to be an inside pitch, resulting in the three-run homer. Pelfrey said he missed the intended target by six inches.

Still, Pelfrey said, he was unalarmed. He typically has horrendous spring trainings. Two years ago, he allowed three homers in a game to the Washington Nationals in Viera. That year, he ended up dominating the Tampa Bay Rays at the Trop in his final spring-training start and then opened the season 9-1.

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Fernando Martinez expressed surprise but not bitterness at the Mets' offseason decision to remove him from the 40-man roster, which resulted in the one-time top prospect being claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.

Martinez was the first major international signing by Omar Minaya's regime. He agreed to a $1.3 million bonus in 2005 as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic.

"I was home. My agent called me and said, 'The Mets put you on waivers,'" Martinez recalled Sunday morning, before starting in left field for the Astros in a Grapefruit League game against his former club. "That's surprised me because I never thought about that."

Still, asked if the Mets were in the wrong for writing him off, Martinez was respectful.

"No, no, no," he said. "I don't feel like that."

Because Martinez had a minor league option remaining, the Mets could have stashed him at Triple-A Buffalo this season without complication, as long as they were willing to devote a 40-man roster spot to him. Instead, they removed Martinez and Daniel Herrera in January when they needed roster spots for Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno. Herrera cleared waivers and decided to stick with the organization.

Martinez, now 23, has been tormented by chronic knee discomfort during his professional career. In fact, between the majors and minors, Martinez had appeared in only 459 games with the organization since beginning play in 2006 -- an average of 77 per season.

Martinez said his knees have felt somewhat better this spring training because he arrived at camp 15 pounds lighter. Still, he acknowledged, the joints are fickle, and some mornings do not feel as good as others.

He has split time between the corner outfield spots in Houston's camp, but said he feels mobile enough right now to play center field if asked.

Martinez, in part because of the option remaining, is not a favorite to claim the lefty-hitting, backup outfielder role. Jack Cust, who signed a non-guaranteed major league deal, had been the frontrunner entering Astros camp. But he is 0-for-20, has been unable to play the field because of an elbow injury and is a release candidate. Travis Buck has emerged as the most likely to win the backup lefty-hitting outfield spot. J.B. Shuck also is a consideration.

Martinez entered Sunday's game hitting .222 with a homer and three RBIs in 18 Grapefruit League at-bats.

The Mets obviously thought Martinez's degenerative knees were never going to allow him to contribute at any notable level in the majors in order to deem him less valuable than other players who remained on the 40-man roster through the offseason. Still, the Mets might have been able to use Martinez off the bench in a part-time role that would have allowed him to keep his knees manageable. Adam Loewen and Mike Baxter currently are vying for that lefty-hitting backup outfield role with the Mets.

"If he was here, yeah, he would have been a contender for the spot," Terry Collins said. "He's still got a chance to hit the ball out of the ballpark and can be a dangerous hitter. It's just you can't get him out there and keep him out there. I hope he's healthy and has a long career, but it was always scary to think that when you called down [to Triple-A] to find out how he's doing, you always found out he wasn't playing."

Said Martinez: "It's a new start for me. I spent a lot of time with the Mets. Now, it's time to change the page. ... I appreciate the Mets giving me the opportunity to play in the majors, to work with me, because I had a lot of injuries in the past. But I'm very happy for now, because I feel good. A new start with a new team."

R.A. Dickey followed Johan Santana with two perfect innings and the Mets ultimately beat the defending-champion-yet-Albert Pujols-and-Tony LaRussa-less St. Louis Cardinals, 8-6, on Tuesday afternoon in Port St. Lucie.

The Mets also dropped a split-squad game to the Houston Astros, 4-1, in Kissimmee.

• Against the Cardinals, Andres Torres continued a favorable introduction to the organization, going 2-for-3 with a three-run triple. Another newcomer, Ronny Cedeno, went 1-for-2 with a walk and RBI while starting at shortstop. Cedeno drew praise from manager Terry Collins.

Collins said staff recently met with Cedeno and preached plate discipline. Cedeno, who has a .286 career on-base percentage in seven seasons, responded with a 10-pitch walk in Monday’s Grapefruit League opener, then Tuesday’s showing.

“He’s done exactly what we’ve asked him to do,” Collins said. “He’s had great at-bats.”

• Dickey retired all six batters he faced, including Skip Schumaker, Matt Holliday and David Freese consecutively in his second frame.

• Borrowed from minor league camp, 2011 first-round pick Brandon Nimmo made his first career Grapefruit League appearance and drew a walk and scored. Fifteenth-round pick Phillip Evans, who was handed an over-slot $650,000 signing bonus to keep him from playing college ball at San Diego State, also debuted. Left-hander Josh Edgin, whom Paul DePodesta has said could fly all the way to the majors this season despite not yet appearing above Class A, recorded the final two outs via strikeout for the save. Darrell Ceciliani had an RBI double to cap the scoring.

With this the only split-squad game of camp and Collins wanting to see backups such as Kevin Baxter, Adam Loewen, Omar Quintanilla, Lucas May and Rob Johnson get plenty of exhibition action, the manager does not foresee many other spring-training opportunities for the kids to come over from minor league camp and appear. That’s despite the Mets’ camp size -- 44 players -- being the lowest Collins can remember in any of his seasons on a major league staff.

Collins got a kick out of the 18-year-old Nimmo’s youthful enthusiasm, particularly when the teenager left the dugout to greet D.J. Carrasco by the foul line after the reliever finished an inning on the mound.

“I need to let him know that we let the players get to the dugout before you shake their hand,” Collins quipped. “You don’t have to go meet them at the foul line. He was al excited. He was very, very excited. I’ll tell you what, he got down that line good, boy.”

Nimmo, who turns 19 in three weeks, was in awe of Holliday’s 6-foot-4 frame.

“He’s the only guy that I think that I’ve seen that’s actually bigger in person than he is on the screen,” the prospect said. “Just being on the field with those guys is a blast.”

Said Collins: “We were sitting there in the ninth inning today. [Coach] Bobby Floyd said, ‘You know, Brandon Nimmo a year ago was playing American Legion baseball, because they don’t have a high school program in Wyoming, or he’s running track. And Phillip Evans was playing high school in San Diego. And today they’re playing in a major league exhibition game.’ That’s pretty impressive for two young kids.”

• Pitching prospect Jeurys Familia, who is in big league camp, did have a rough appearance. Familia surrendered a first-pitch grand slam to Matt Adams in the right-hander’s second inning on the mound and was pulled with two out.

“I thought he actually threw the ball great the first inning,” Collins said. “The second inning, actually the same thing Matt [Harvey] did last night, they start to get a little too fine, try to go to the corners instead of attacking the zone. And he got himself in trouble. Two bases on balls is what killed him.”

• First-year Cardinals manager Mike Matheny echoed the praises of Santana’s performance.

“He had a real effective changeup,” Matheny said. “The ball was looking good out of his hand. It doesn’t look like he was holding anything back. Nasty changeup. You’ve got to have arm speed for that changeup to work. And you can tell really on the swing that Yadi [Molina] took -- the swing and miss -- that thing disappears. He does a good job of hiding the ball. But you’ve got to have some kind of velocity in order to make that changeup work like that.”

Pitching coach Dan Warthen told reporters that the Mets’ radar gun had Santana sitting at 90 mph and topping out at 92 mph. But the stadium gun, which appeared to match scouts’ guns, had Santana sitting at 87-88 mph and topping out at 90 mph.

• At the other split-squad game, against the Astros, starter Chris Schwinden allowed three runs (one earned), including a homer. Second baseman Daniel Murphy had a throwing error on an attempted double play. Fernando Cabrera also allowed a solo homer in two innings. Jeremy Hefner, Armando Rodriguez and Josh Stinson combined for four scoreless relief innings. Josh Satin went 2-for-3 and drove in the Mets’ lone run.

• Ex-Met Fernando Martinez, who was claimed off waivers by the Astros during the offseason, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

One-time top Mets prospect Fernando Martinez is now a Houston Astro.

Houston, which has first dibs in waiver claims by virtue of its MLB-worst record in 2011, selected the 23-year-old outfielder.

"I will always be grateful to the Mets, but now I'm an Astro," Martinez told ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas. "I hope the change of scenery will help me revive my career. I'm anxious to begin this new stage. ... If I'm healthy and I'm given the opportunity, I'm going to hit. Now I'm healthy and only waiting for my work visa in order to go train in Miami and then spring training. ... I'm a young man. Sometimes they say as if I'm a man of 35 years, but I'm only 23 and am ready to begin again."

The Mets needed to clear 40-man roster spots for the additions of Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno, and chose to put Martinez as well as left-hander Daniel Herrera on waivers.

Because Martinez has an option remaining, he needs to remain on Houston's 40-man roster, but can be optioned to Triple-A in spring training if he does not make the major league club.

Martinez is a lifetime .183 hitter with two homers and 12 RBIs in 131 at-bats spanning the past three seasons. His biggest obstacle has been injuries, including an arthritic knee that severely limits his mobility, even when technically healthy. Including his major league activity, Martinez has averaged only 77 games a regular season since 2006.

One-time top prospect Fernando Martinez as well as left-hander Daniel Herrera may be in their final days with the organization. A source told ESPNNewYork.com that both players are on waivers to clear the roster spots for Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno.

Martinez, 23, has faded as a prospect because of continual leg injuries. Even when healthy, an arthritic knee limits his mobility in the outfield. If Martinez clears waivers, the Mets can option him to Triple-A Buffalo. But Martinez's reputation could prompt another team to claim him at least to take a shot.

Martinez hit .227 in 11 games with the Mets last season. He hit .260 with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 223 at-bats at Triple-A Buffalo.

Herrera, 27, was one of two players to be named in the deal that sent Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers -- really a salary dump to avoid K-Rod's contract vesting at 55 games finished with the Mets. Herrera had adequate numbers as a Met -- a 1.13 ERA in 16 appearances spanning eight innings -- but the organization concern is his effectiveness will fade as National League East opponents become more acclimated to his screwball.

Assuming Herrera clears waivers, he can declare free agency rather than report to the minors with the Mets.

Although it's subject to modifications, team insiders project this year's September call-ups to be right-handers Miguel Batista, Chris Schwinden, John Lujan and Josh Stinson, left-handers Pat Misch and Robert Carson, catcher Mike Nickeas and infielder Josh Satin.

Batista, 40, is 2-0 with a 3.92 ERA in nine appearances (seven starts) for Buffalo. He was released by the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this season.

Schwinden, 24, was the Bisons' lone representative in the Triple-A All-Star Game. He is 7-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts.

Lujan, 27, has tossed 10 1/3 straight scoreless innings over nine appearances with Buffalo. He was a December 2009 Rule 5 pick from the Chicago White Sox in the minor league phase.

The offensive-minded Satin can play three infield positions, although his strength is his bat. After hitting .325 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and a .423 on-base percentage in 94 games with Binghamton, Satin has continued the production with Buffalo. He is hitting .347 through 25 Triple-A games.

Stinson and Carson are currently working out of the Double-A Binghamton bullpen. Misch and Nickeas are familiar from previous stints in the majors.

Fernando Martinez's third trip to the Triple-A Buffalo disabled list this season, this time for a left wrist strain, may have scuttled his chances of joining the Amazin's. Corner infielder Zach Lutz, a highly regarded hitter at Buffalo who is on the 40-man roster, may also miss out because of his limited at-bats this season (172) -- the result of two concussions as well as a hamstring injury and broken left ring finger suffered when he was struck with a foul ball in the dugout. The list also omits Buffalo relievers Mike O'Connor and Dale Thayer.

Binghamton Mets manager Wally Backman joined the organization last year, after Juan Lagares already had moved from shortstop to outfield. And Backman said it is undetectable that Lagares really is a relative novice experience-wise in the new position.

“I couldn’t tell a bit,” Backman said. “He can play in the outfield in the big leagues. I mean, defensively his skills are good enough to play in the big leagues.

“He’s a 22-year-old kid who can play all three outfield positions. He’s got speed. He’s a good outfielder. He throws to the right bases. And he can swing the bat a little bit.”

Lagares was leading the Florida State League in batting with a .339 average when he was promoted to the Double-A B-Mets on July 23. In 20 Eastern League games, he is hitting .414 with two homers and 15 RBIs.

One scout who recently watched Lagares compared him body-type-wise to Raul Mondesi.

“Compact,” the scout said. “Short, hitter’s legs.”

Backman said there’s a smoothness to Lagares at the plate.

“He has a very ‘quiet’ approach,” the manager said. “He has a knack for getting the barrel on the ball. He looks like he’s a real good hitter. I mean, if you just watch him, you say, ‘This kid is going to be able to hit.’ He’s got a lot of infield hits, which is why he’s up to .400 right now. But so be it. He’s driven in some big runs. My impression of him, having him for a couple of weeks, is I like him. I like what I’ve seen so far.”

Signed in 2006 out of the Dominican Republic, Lagares committed 40 errors in 82 games at shortstop the following season with Savannah, and had a .911 fielding percentage.

“My first year it’s a lot of errors,” Lagares said. “After that, I felt good.”

Still, in 2009, the organization moved him to the outfield, where he has shown an aptitude. Lagares said line drives were initially challenging, but the transition was relatively smooth.

“In the beginning, it was not that easy,” Lagares said. “But with time I learned how to play outfield comfortably.”

Injuries really have slowed Lagares more than anything in his career. He suffered a broken right ankle on July 28, 2010 while playing for St. Lucie, but did not require surgery. Lagares actually played two weeks in pain after initially getting hurt holding up at third base on a teammate’s hit. He eventually had to be shut down after he ran in pain to first base on a strikeout that eluded the catcher.

The previous season, Lagares was limited to 47 games by a wrist injury. In 2008, the start to his season was delayed by an arm issue.

A team official recently said Lagares’ 2010 ankle issue might not be completely healed yet and might be suppressing his steal totals -- 10 this season between the two levels, compared with 25 a year ago before being shut down.

But, Lagares said: “It’s over. I feel 100 percent.”

Organization leaders

Average: Juan Lagares, Binghamton, .355; Danny Muno, Brooklyn, .341; Josh Satin, Buffalo, .331; Greg Pron, Kingsport, .328; Julio Concepcion, Kingsport, .320; Dustin Lawley, Kingsport, .317; Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, .312; Richard Lucas, Brooklyn, .309; Travis Taijeron, Brooklyn, .303; Cam Maron, Kingsport, .302.

Homers: Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 22; Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 18; Jordany Valdespin, Buffalo, 15; Allan Dykstra, Binghamton, 15; Stefan Welch, St. Lucie, 15.

RBI: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 82; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 75; Josh Satin, Buffalo, 72; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 68; Juan Lagares, Binghamton, 64.

Steals: Jordany Valdespin, Buffalo, 33; Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, 30; Matt den Dekker, Binghamton, 21; Darrell Ceciliani, Savannah, 19; Rafael Fernandez, Savannah, 17.

ERA: Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 2.27; Todd Weldon, Brooklyn, 2.56; Taylor Whitenton, Savannah, 2.81; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 2.97; Angel Cuan, Savannah, 3.08; Gabriel Ynoa, GCL Mets, 3.13; Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 3.36; Greg Peavey, St. Lucie, 3.37; Marcos Camarena, Brooklyn, 3.40; Ryan Fraser, Savannah, 3.43.

Wins: Greg Peavey, St. Lucie, 11; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 11; Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 11; Angel Cuan, Savannah, 10; Brandon Moore, Binghamton, 9.

Saves: Josh Edgin, St. Lucie, 24; Dale Thayer, Buffalo, 16; Hamilton Bennett, Savannah, 12; Jeffrey Kaplan, St. Lucie, 10.

Strikeouts: Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 146; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 125; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 118; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 114; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 113.

Short hops

• Oft-injured outfielder Fernando Martinez landed on the disabled Tuesday with Triple-A Buffalo with a left wrist strain. It is the third time Martinez has landed on the disabled list this season. He also had stints for a left hip flexor strain (July 16-30) and right hamstring strain (April 13-23). Scouts say the 22-year-old Martinez typically labors when running, the result of an arthritic knee and other nagging ailments. Martinez does have a minor league option remaining, meaning he can be sent to Buffalo again in 2012 without being exposed to waivers provided the organization decides to keep him on the 40-man roster and he does not make the Opening Day roster.

• Binghamton will play at Fenway Park at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday against Portland, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. It is part of a Sox affiliate doubleheader in which Triple-A Pawtucket and Syracuse also meet. Right-hander Collin McHugh starts at the classic ballpark for the B-Mets opposite Portland knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, who has appeared in 34 major league games (10 starts). Haeger’s MLB experience includes an April 27, 2010 start for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Mets at Citi Field, during which Haeger allowed five runs in four innings.

• The Mets signed Odessa, Texas, prep shortstop/wide receiver Bradley Marquez -- their 16th-round pick -- for a reported $325,000 … and with a catch. Marquez also will play college football at Texas Tech. Mets VP Paul DePodesta explains: “He’ll play football this fall and then report to us when the school year is over. And he’ll likely play football again in the fall of 2012. After that it’s a little more fluid in terms of how much time he spends with us versus football.”

• Through one week in Triple-A, middle infielder Jordany Valdespin is hitting .179 (5-for-28) with one RBI, two caught stealings and three errors. He has started five games at shortstop and two games at second base. Valdespin is 1-for-his-last-18.

• In his last 10 games, Buffalo reliever John Lujan is 2-1 with a save and 0.73 ERA. He has tossed 10 2/3 straight scoreless innings.

• Brooklyn’s representatives in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday in Lowell, Mass., came out on the winning side as the National League beat the American League, 7-3. Cyclones shortstop Danny Muno came off the bench to go 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Third baseman Richard Lucas was 0-for-2 and right fielder Charley Thurber went 0-for-4 with a run scored. T.J. Chism and Todd Weldon combined to record the final four outs for the NL, striking out three without allowing any baserunners. Travis Taijeron, who was selected, went unused.

• Rylan Sandoval, who was signed by the Mets last year after going undrafted out of Long Beach State, has been named Florida State League player of the week. Sandoval hit .524 (11-for-21) with three homers, 11 RBIs and five walks from Aug. 8-14. Sandoval, who turned 24 last Wednesday, actually was drafted by the Mets in the 30^th round in 2007, but did not sign.

• St. Lucie outfielder Cory Vaughn returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing five days with a bruised heel. Vaughn is hitting .130 in August. His average has dipped to .234 in 44 games since a promotion from Savannah to the Florida State League.

• Buffalo corner infielder Zach Lutz is hitting .314 with three homers in 10 games since returning from the disabled list for a second concussion. Lutz is a probable September call-up.

• Right fielder Raul Reyes, who may have been on the brink of getting released earlier this season, is on a tear with Binghamton. Reyes was hitting .165 entering June. Since July 31, he is hitting .477 (21-for-44) with four homers and 12 RBIs. Reyes also has 11 outfield assists this season, three shy of teammate Brahiam Maldonado’s team-high total.

• Maldonado produced his 22^nd homer Sunday against Richmond, establishing a new career high. Maldonado combined to go deep 21 times last season between St. Lucie and Binghamton.

• The Mets are thin in terms of catching prospects in the minors, but Savannah’s Albert Cordero is opening eyes. Cordero, a 21-year-old Venezuelan, has a strong throwing arm. He also is hitting .426 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 14 games this month. One talent evaluator also believes St. Lucie backup Juan Centeno has potential.

• First-round pick Brandon Nimmo is expected to make his professional debut later this week in the Gulf Coast League.

Adam Rubin’s farm report appears Wednesdays during the regular season

Mike Pelfrey lobbied to stay in Saturday's game after being struck with a fifth-inning line drive in the right elbow off the bat of Gerardo Parra. Trainer Ray Ramirez didn't allow it. So D.J. Carrasco entered and coughed up a two-run lead by serving up a three-run homer. The Mets eventually lost at Arizona, 6-4, to slide three games under .500.

Pelfrey joked that he wished assistant trainer Mike Herbst rather than Ramirez had come to the mound, since it was Herbst who allowed Niese to throw that ill-fated warm-up pitch after an injury covering first base two years ago. Niese collapsed on the mound Aug. 5, 2009 during that warm-up pitch and required surgery for a torn hamstring tendon.

Pelfrey expected to make his next start, which would be Friday at home against the Milwaukee Brewers, when Francisco Rodriguez comes back to Citi Field. X-rays of Pelfrey's elbow were negative, the organization reported, and Pelfrey was diagnosed with a bruise.

Pelfrey also clarified his quotes in Saturday's Post, saying any suggestion he made that it was "unrealistic" for the Mets to win a championship this year were taken out of context. “I’ve said stupid stuff before,” Pelfrey said. “But this time, I didn’t.”

Pelfrey said he left the interview Friday believing he had said something positive, and noted he said that the organization is heading in the right direction under Sandy Alderson and crew. "This isn't a big deal," David Wright said.

Read the full ESPNNewYork.com report here.

Sunday's news reports:

• Read game stories/Pelfrey reaction coverage in the Times, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Daily News and Record. Mike Puma in the Post has this opening to his story: Mike Pelfrey's foot hadn't even left his mouth last night when a new body part became an issue.

• Zack Wheeler was a tough-luck loser. He allowed one run in five innings in his third start with Class A St. Lucie since being acquired for Carlos Beltran. "It was just that I couldn't get command of my fastball tonight. I was all around the plate," Wheeler told Bill Whitehead at TCPalm.com. Said St. Lucie manager Pedro Lopez, who managed against Wheeler's Augusta team in the South Atlantic League last season: "He's much different. He pitched more up in the zone last year. This year it's more downward plane with his pitches. He a really special kid. Tonight he didn't have his best stuff, but he gave up one run in five innings."

Meanwhile, fellow top pitching prospect Jeurys Familia tossed five scoreless innings for Double-A Binghamton. Read the minor league recap here.

• While not set in stone, sources project the Mets' September call-ups to include right-handers Chris Schwinden and Josh Stinson, left-hander Robert Carson, infielders Josh Satin and Zach Lutz, outfielder Fernando Martinez and catcher Mike Nickeas.

• Justin Turner pinch hit in the ninth inning Saturday and plans to return to the lineup Sunday after missing two starts, despite a hip flexor/quadriceps issue.

• Terry Collins started Mike Baxter over Scott Hairston in right field on Saturday night. The primary reason? Collins thought Hairston was more equipped to be a late-game pinch hitter than Baxter, who produced his first major league triple during Saturday's game. Read more on the rationale in the Star-Ledger and Record.

• Staten Island's Jason Marquis, who faces the Mets on Sunday after being sent July 30 from Washington to Arizona, again is a free agent this offseason. And like the previous times he has been available, he would love to pitch at home, he told the Daily News. "I try not to extend my focus past (this season), but obviously I have always had a desire to pitch at home," Marquis told the newspaper. "I'm a New York guy, and I have always dreamed of playing for the Yankees or Mets, representing my hometown."

• Christian Red of the Daily News speaks with one Long Island family about their Sept. 11 loss, and how Mike Piazza and the Mets were a part of the healing 10 days later.

BIRTHDAY: Outfielder McKay Christensen, a waiver claim from the Dodgers, who had four plate appearances as a Met during the 2002 season, turns 36.

After rosters expand Sept. 1, the Mets will promote players from the minors. Here are the early projections. (We'll omit the Dale Thayer/Mike O'Connor types on the 40-man roster and stick to the homegrown prospects.)

CHRIS SCHWINDEN, rhp (7-6, 3.53 ERA in 23 appearances, 21 starts, with Buffalo and Binghamton): The Dillon Gee-type feel-good story of the current crop of prospects, Schwinden came out of nowhere. A 22^nd-round pick in 2008 from Fresno Pacific, even Schwinden has been pleasantly surprised by his success. “I didn’t think I was going to do as good as I am now. It’s kind of shocking. It’s turned out for the best so far,” Schwinden said earlier this season. (Read farm report from this season here.)

JOSH STINSON, rhp (5-9, 6.36 ERA in 33 appearances, 15 starts, with Buffalo and Binghamton): Stinson had success at Triple-A Buffalo after a promotion late last season, going 2-2 with a 2.57 ERA in four starts. He stumbled this season in the International League as a starter, posting a 7.44 ERA in 13 starts. He then was reassigned to Double-A Binghamton, where he was assigned to the bullpen -- the role the Mets project for the Shreveport, La., native in the majors.

ROBERT CARSON, lhp (3-11, 4.85 in 21 starts with Binghamton): The most unexpected choice assuming he is in fact promoted, Carson likely would help as a southpaw in the bullpen. He threw 94-95 mph during his last outing with the B-Mets, but tended to be up in the strike zone, where more discerning major league hitters could give him problems. Left-handers are hitting .295 and right-handers .304 against Carson this season. Carson is a 14-round pick in 2007 out of high school in Hattiesburg, Miss. (Read farm report from last season here.)

JOSH SATIN, infielder (.324, 12 HR, 71 RBI, .415 OBP, 417 at-bats with Buffalo and Binghamton): After hitting .325 in Double-A, Satin earned a July 22 promotion to the Bisons and continued his offensive success. A sixth-round pick in 2008 from Cal-Berkeley, Satin recently enjoyed a 15-game hitting streak. Perhaps a notch below Daniel Murphy in terms of defensive skill, Satin similarly has been exposed to first, second and third base. (Read farm report from this season here.)

ZACH LUTZ, third baseman (.301, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 156 at-bats with Buffalo): A solid hitter whose father Yogi coached him at Alvernia College before Lutz was drafted in the fifth round in 2007, injuries have been Lutz’s biggest obstacle. Early in his pro career, Lutz dealt with stress fractures in his feet, which required surgery. This year, he originally landed on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. And while on the DL, he was struck with a foul ball in the dugout, breaking the ring finger on his non-throwing hand. Lutz also has suffered a pair of concussions this season -- both the result of being hit in the head with pitches. Lutz, not a gifted fielder, also has been exposed to first base during his minor league career. (Read farm report from last season here.)

FERNANDO MARTINEZ, outfielder (.264, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 216 at-bats with Buffalo): The 22-year-old Martinez, who has battled injuries throughout his career, hit .227 with a homer and two RBIs in 22 at-bats, primarily in May, with the Mets. Martinez missed 10 games in April with a right hamstring strain and 14 games in July with a left hip flexor strain with Buffalo. He does have a minor league option remaining in 2012, so he does not have to make the Opening Day roster or be exposed to waivers next season.

MIKE NICKEAS, catcher (.216, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 153 at-bats with Buffalo): The third catcher is widely respected for his catching ability and is viewed as a future coach. He’s hitting .212 (7-for-33) over two seasons in the majors. (Read profile from spring training here.)

Mets VP Paul DePodesta, who oversees the farm system and amateur scouting, takes time with ESPNNewYork.com to break down the organization's minor leagues.

You have almost completed a full minor league season, had a draft. What’s the state of the farm system in a general sense?

“I certainly think we’re making progress. It’s been probably well-documented from the draft, and even to what we did at the trading deadline. One of the things we really sought out is potential impact talent. To the extent that it works out, we won’t know for a while. But it’s certainly been a target. And we’ve been able to bring some of these guys into the system. Some other guys that already have been in the system, we’ve been able to move them along fairly rapidly. I think in that sense I’m very pleased. I think the overall depth of the system is pretty solid. Our goal is to certainly make it better.

“On the impact end, I think we’re making some progress. Again, I think there was probably a little bit more here when we first arrived than was sort of generally accepted. There were a couple of guys last year that didn’t have great years who I think have high-end talent. So when we came in, they weren’t heralded as maybe they should be. A guy like (right-hander) Jeurys Familia, he has a chance to be a big-time guy, and probably hasn’t gotten at least that type of attention. Having him now with (2010 first-round pick Matt) Harvey and having (fellow right-hander Zack) Wheeler (from the Carlos Beltran trade) behind those guys, it’ll start to show what kind of talent he is. Overall, I’m pleased. There’s certainly still room for us to get better, both on the scouting side and on the development side. But I like where we are as of right now.”

In terms of the upper levels of the system, is it bad luck with injuries to players such as Kirk Nieuwenhuis (shoulder surgery), Zach Lutz (pair of concussions, broken ring finger)? Or have there been a lack of available players to where you had to, say, call up a third catcher?

“I think there are a couple of things. One is, a lot of the talent at the upper levels we have seen here (in the majors). I’d say Dillon Gee, Ruben Tejada, Lucas Duda, I mean those guys were all projected to be at Buffalo this year and have been pretty significant contributors at this level so far. Beyond that, the saving grace for me in (corner infielder Zach) Lutz and (outfielder Kirk) Nieuwenhuis and (Fernando) Martinez and all the guys who have had some injuries is when they’ve played, they’ve all played extraordinarily well. Nieuwenhuis is a guy who is a really interesting case. Admittedly, from my standpoint, he’s not a guy I knew a lot about. I didn’t see him as an amateur at Azusa (Pacific University) when he was coming out. But he’s one of those guys from sort of a smaller school, and as he’s been in the minor leagues and moved up levels, he continues to get better at every level. His production continues to increase at every level, which is rare. So I’m excited about him. It’s really too bad he had the shoulder injury and is going to miss the rest of the year. I think he certainly has a bright future.

“I think at the Double-A level, a lot of the guys we had there weren’t necessarily ready to come here. But (infielder) Josh Satin had a terrific year and is now in Triple-A and hasn’t missed a beat. (Middle infielder) Jordany Valdespin had a great year, and has actually played shortstop extremely well and has gotten better month after month and is now, I think, absolutely a viable major league shortstop. (Second baseman) Reese Havens is sort of like Lutz and Nieuwenhuis. When he’s played, he’s been awfully good. And then on the pitching side, we did fill in an awful lot at Triple-A with some veterans. Gee was sort of the one young guy we felt like was poised and ready. One guy that had a real breakout year was (right-hander) Chris Schwinden. He’s put himself now in a position to help us.

“And then in Double-A we had some nice talent, but guys who were not quite ready to be here and we were probably pushing them even a little at Double-A -- guys like (left-hander Robert) Carson and now, through the course of the year, with Familia and Harvey there. Some other guys have had nice years. (Right-handers Brandon) Moore and (Collin) McHugh have pitched well. Both (right-handers Brad) Holt and (Josh) Stinson I think have pitched well now that they have been moved to the pen, which we all think is their ultimate roles. They seem to have adjusted well to that transition.

“But admittedly once (Jenrry) Mejia went down (with Tommy John surgery) and Gee came up, we didn’t have the stable of young, major league ready pitching. We were a little thin. But I think that layer that’s right behind them has a chance to be pretty darn good.”

You still project Mejia and Familia as rotation as opposed to bullpen guys?

“Yeah, I do. We’ll see as it happens. I think any player development system’s hope is you get to a point where players sort of force themselves on the major league roster -- they sort of force the front office to make a move for them because their performance is so dominant and they’re so clearly ready to be here, as opposed to bringing guys up just because you need them, you don’t have anybody else and something has happened. If we can get to that point on a pitching staff where our starting five is so good that some of these other guys are ready and knocking at the door, who knows what role they may end up in at that point? History will tell you a lot of quality minor league starters end up being quality bullpen guys. But as we sit here today, we certainly still project those guys as starting pitchers?”

If you conceivably are going to devote a lot of dollars to Jose Reyes in the offseason and you have to be more creative at other positions, are there any minor league players who have yet to make their debuts who can be introduced early next season and have an impact? Maybe Josh Satin?

“You mentioned Satin. I think he’s a guy who can contribute here. I think (Monday call-up) Mike Baxter is a guy who can contribute here. He has a different story because we just recently acquired him. I think Lutz is a guy. I think Nieuwenhuis is certainly a guy that can help. And I sort of hesitate to say this, because you never know what’s going to happen when guys do move to the pen -- but sometimes those guys can really come quick, because if they have the stuff, and they have the command, it almost doesn’t matter if it’s in A-ball or Double-A or in the big leagues. It plays and will continue to play at each level.

“In that respect, we’ll see what Stinson is able to do and we’ll see what Holt is able to do as they continue to adjust to that role. One other guy, and I hesitate to say it, because it’s a long way away, is Josh Edgin. He’s a left-handed reliever currently in St. Lucie. He started the year in Savannah. But he’s got major league stuff and he’s left-handed. Again, you just never know how quickly those guys can come. He’s in Port St. Lucie right now, which is why I’m squeamish about talking about 2012."

If Baseball America re-ranked the farm system after the trade deadline and placed Zack Wheeler No. 1, does that mean you made a great trade? Or is it a commentary on the system a little?

“I don’t know. Harvey is awfully good. It’s starting to show at Double-A too. His last few starts have each gotten better, and his last one was just absolutely dominant. Technically, he’s a little closer. Some of their midseason lists, I don’t know if it was Baseball America or somebody else’s, I think Harvey was maybe a couple of slots ahead of Wheeler. I think it’s debatable. We moved Familia to Double-A before Harvey. Certainly part of that was for development reasons. He was just ready earlier. But I don’t know why his ceiling is different than those guys. He throws just as hard. He’s got a good slider. He’s generally in the zone. He’s awfully good too. Look, Wheeler was the No. 6 pick in the country (in 2009). Harvey was the seventh (in 2010). Maybe that gives Wheeler an edge.”

Does something have to give with Fernando Martinez? Or he does have an option for next year, so he could go back to Triple-A in 2012 if need be?

“He has another option after this year.”

St. Lucie’s Wilmer Flores has been ranked atop many rankings in the past. What is his future? Will you move him from shortstop?

“We’ll see. I think with any of these guys, when we’ve considered position changes, it will be well-discussed. We have talked about it with (Wilmer Flores) at different times. We’ve talked about the benefits of him staying at shortstop and it will help him regardless of where he moves. We do think that the next move, if there is a move, and I think it’s probably likely at some point, it will be in the infield. The play at shortstop has been solid. It actually has been quite solid. The question is whether or not we think it’s going to hold up, and ultimately from his standpoint where he’s most comfortable.

“He’s played some third in winter ball. There’s been some talk about second base. We’ll discuss this as we sort of wind down the season and head into the offseason. I think we feel like regardless his time at short has been well-spent, and will continue to be well-spent if he continues to stay there. To his credit, he’s really played it well.

“He just turned 20 years old. And one thing I feel strongly about, and one thing I think we feel strongly about organizationally, is that one of the things that improves dramatically with repetitions is infield defense probably as much as anything in the game. Guys might get a little bit better in the outfield. They get better with routes and jumps. But there are limitations in terms of how much better they can get. Hitting is tough. There are limitations with how much better a guy is going to get. But infield defense, there are just a lot of stories of guys who made 30, 40, even 50 errors in the minor leagues and went on to become very solid defensive infielders in the major leagues.”

I had just heard the range, the foot speed and first step weren’t where it would need to be for shortstop.

“And that could be. I think that’s probably a question. I don’t think the question right now is with the hands or with the arm. It’s an untraditional arm stroke, but he gets it over there and it’s accurate for the most part. I think you’re right. I think that’s a fair point about whether or not he stays there. I think that will be probably the defining question in terms of whether or not he stays there.”

People have visions of a rotation in two or three years of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia. As a development person, I’m sure you want to go 4-for-4. But if you hit on two of those four in the rotation, would you be thrilled? What’s good return on that type of inventory?

“I think that’s probably fair. If we hit one out of every two, I think we’d be thrilled. We feel it’s a very good group. We’re going to try to add to the group. Maybe this time next year we’ll be talking about (second-round pick) Cory Mazzoni in that group or (44^th overall pick Michael) Fulmer right behind those guys. Who knows?

“We’ve actually got a lot of good arms in short season that were here before I got here that are young, young kids, but with power arms and have a chance to come quickly. Guys like (U.S. Virgin Islands native) Akeel Morris, Miller Diaz, Domingo Tapia, there are a handful of them. These are guys who are consistently throwing in the mid-90s, some of them touching high-90s. Tapia is throwing 100 mph this year. Every outing has been in the upper 90s.

“One thing you can be sure of is we’re going to continue to try to stockpile them, sort of knowing that we’re not going to be 100 percent on these guys. I use this in a much broader context than just those four that you mentioned that are at the upper levels, or close to the upper levels, but shoot, I think we’d be killing it if we hit at 50 percent.”

Was there anyone signed internationally this year, even if it was a low signing bonus, that you were particularly pleased you got?

“There are a handful actually. There’s one who is already over here in the States and has moved past the GCL and is into Kingsport. Rafael Montero is a right-handed pitcher. He’s a little older. He’s 20 already and I think was just about 20 or already 20 when we signed him. But he has a good arm, a good feel and it’s a legitimate three-pitch mix. It’s low- to mid-90s. Good body. Good command. He’s an interesting package.

“I was just down in the Dominican last week and saw some of the kids we had signed. Pedro Perez, who we signed, is technically a shortstop. He’s playing third base. A switch-hitter. He’s a good-looking young hitter. And there’s an outfielder named Vicente Lupo -- the kid who got really sick last fall. Really, really sick. He’s an outfielder from Venezuela. He was the one who had malignant hypothermia. He’s back and playing. He’s swinging the bat well. There’s another pitcher named Luis Mateo, who is also a little older. He’s 21. He has really good power stuff. He’s actually still in the Dominican. All those guys were signed this year.

“I believe there’s an outfielder name Mikais de la Cruz, who is in the Dominican, that I believe was signed in this cycle but before I got here. The international market, the fiscal year is July 2 to July 2. So I’m not counting anybody we have signed in the last month. It’s everybody we signed pre-July 2. There are a handful of them, but Montero has certainly been the quickest mover.

“There’s also a Cuban second baseman we signed named Jorge Rivero, who we’ve already brought over. He’s playing in the GCL and is swinging the bat pretty well. He’s also older. He’s 21, I think. He’s a good-looking hitter.”

"In-depth" appears Tuesdays during the regular season

Cory Vaughn’s athletic interests have their limits.

While his father Greg played 15 seasons in the majors, the other competitive athletes in Vaughn’s family these days are his mother Michele and 17-year-old sister Genay, an aspiring Olympian. They are involved in equestrian, operating Starr Vaughn Equestrian Center in Elk Grove, Calif., and competing internationally in countries such as Germany.

You will not find the 22-year-old outfielder Vaughn on horseback with them.

“Oh, definitely not,” Vaughn said. “Those horses are so big. I was so big when I was little, I felt like I was 20 feet in the air on top of the horse. I shied away from that and stuck to baseball.”

Baseball is working out nicely for Vaughn, a fourth-round pick last year out of Tony Gwynn’s San Diego State program.

After last year’s draft, Vaughn hit .307 with 14 homers in 72 games for the Brooklyn Cyclones and was named a New York-Penn League All-Star. This season, he hit .286 with four homers and had a .405 on-base percentage in 68 games with Savannah while again earning an All-Star selection.

After the Gnats clinched the first half, Vaughn was promoted to high-A St. Lucie. His average exceeded .313 just 10 days ago in the Florida State League, but has dipped to .250 through 35 games with a 4-for-36 rut. Vaughn has played right field with St. Lucie. That’s the position he played his freshman year at San Diego State before moving to center field.

“I feel like I almost saw guys throw harder down in Savannah, but here they have a better idea of how to approach you and get you out,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn’s healthy on-base percentage comes from walks as well as getting hit 19 times this season -- tied for fifth most in minor league baseball. He also was hit in the All-Star Game, so the actual total is 20.

“I’m not even standing on the plate,” he said. “I’m trying to have good at-bats. You’re not going to get on base every single game. You’re not going to have hits every single game. But I’ve been trying to go up there with a plan and approach, just try to work the counts a little bit, trying not to do too much -- just play the game the right way. Any way it takes I’m going to try to get on base.”

While he might have preferred to be promoted to St. Lucie earlier, Vaughn remained in low-A until fellow 2010 draft pick Matt den Dekker moved from St. Lucie to Binghamton -- and until Savannah clinched the first-half title in its South Atlantic League division. That allowed Vaughn to participate in the SAL All-Star Game in Salisbury, Md., where he homered off Roman Mendez of the Rangers organization with Vaughn’s father on hand as a spectator. His father primarily played for Milwaukee, San Diego and Tampa Bay during a major league career that spanned 1989 to 2003.

“The coach went out there and talked to him because he was a little wild,” Vaughn said about the opposing pitcher in the All-Star Game. “He was throwing probably about 96, 97ish mph. First of all, in an All-Star game, you’re not trying to get cheated at all. I go up there, and the first pitch as soon as the coach is done talking to him, a fastball up in the zone, I just took a good swing. It worked out for me that it got over the fence.”

As for his father being in attendance for the game, Vaughn added: “He tries to make it to as many as he can, but my sister is in high school in Sacramento. And my mom is doing her business with equestrian and horses. Whenever he has a chance he tries to make it out. I mean, I talk to him every night. He tries to give me my own space.”

Vaughn’s Twitter handle, by the way, is @sugarfreecv. It’s a reference to Vaughn dealing with juvenile diabetes since his youth.

Organization leaders

Average: Juan Lagares, Binghamton, .348; Richard Lucas, Brooklyn, .340; Danny Muno, Brooklyn, .333; Josh Satin, Buffalo, .329; Julio Concepcion, Kingsport, .318; Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, .317; Greg Pron, Kingsport, .315; Cam Maron, Kingsport, .306; Luis Figueroa, Buffalo, .305; Charley Thurber, Brooklyn, .302.

Homers: Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 19; Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 16; Jordany Valdespin, Binghamton, 15; Allan Dykstra, Binghamton, 14.

RBI: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 75; Josh Satin, Buffalo, 70; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 67; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 65; Allan Dykstra, Binghamton, 56.

Steals: Jordany Valdespin, Binghamton, 31; Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, 28; Matt den Dekker, Binghamton, 19; Darrell Ceciliani, Savannah, 16.

ERA: Rafael Montero, GCL Mets, 1.45; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 2.20; Todd Weldon, Brooklyn, 2.56; Erik Goeddel, GCL Mets, 2.57; Gabriel Ynoa, GCL Mets, 2.83; Bret Mitchell, Kingsport, 2.95; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 2.97; Angel Cuan, Savannah, 3.00; Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 3.32; Carlos Vazquez, Brooklyn, 3.38.

Wins: Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 10; Greg Peavey, St. Lucie, 10; Angel Cuan, Savannah, 9; Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 8; Brandon Moore, Binghamton, 8.

Saves: Josh Edgin, St. Lucie, 21; Dale Thayer, Buffalo, 14; Jeffrey Kaplan, St. Lucie, 10; Hamilton Bennett, Savannah, 10.

Strikeouts: Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 130; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 115; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 112; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 104; Gonzalez Germen, Savannah, 101.

Short hops

• Right-hander Zack Wheeler allowed three first-inning runs, and four runs in four innings, on Monday in his Mets debut, with Class A St. Lucie. Wheeler did not issue a walk. He reverted to his high school mechanics for his final two starts in the Giants organization, and that resulted in issuing only two walks in 11 1/3 innings. Through 76 2/3 innings with San Jose, Wheeler had walked 45.

• Jim Callis of Baseball America re-ranks the Mets’ top-10 prospects this way, naming Wheeler the organization’s top farmhand, followed by Matt Harvey, 2011 first-round pick Brandon Nimmo, Jeurys Familia, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Jenrry Mejia, Cesar Puello, 44^th overall pick Michael Fulmer, Jordany Valdespin and Wilmer Flores. (Mejia is not eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration going forward because he spent a half-season in the majors as a reliever.)

• Fulmer, a prep right-hander from Oklahoma, should make his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League shortly after signing for a reported $937,500. Fourth-round pick Tyler Pill from Cal State-Fullerton made his Brooklyn debut on Tuesday with a scoreless inning after two appearances in the Gulf Coast League.

• Familia returned to Binghamton’s rotation Tuesday after missing three weeks with a shoulder impingement.

• Dillon Gee will be enshrined in the Brooklyn Cyclones ring of honor in a ceremony before Thursday’s New York-Penn League game. His No. 20 will be displayed in the stadium, alongside the names/numbers of outfielder Angel Pagan, right-hander Brian Bannister and second baseman Danny Garcia, who was the first Cyclone to reach the majors. While the numbers are displayed at MCU Park, they are not retired.

• 2009 top pick Steve Matz, who is progressing slowly from Tommy John surgery performed 15 months ago, has yet to throw a professional pitch in a game and is unlikely to do so this season. The former standout at Ward Melville High School on Long Island has not resumed throwing following a shutdown for micro-sized muscle tears in the left elbow area. Matz is just preparing for an offseason, with an eye toward pitching in 2012.

• Infielder Josh Satin has a 10-game hitting streak and has upped his average to .354 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 12 games since a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Satin mostly will play third base with the Bisons, but also will see action at second base, with limited duty at first base.

• Outfielder Fernando Martinez (.254, 8 HR, 27 RBI, 189 at-bats) returned Saturday after missing two weeks with the Bisons with a hip injury.

• St. Lucie manager Pedro Lopez will manage the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. In addition to Mets prospects, the squad also will include farmhands from Milwaukee, St. Louis, Seattle and San Diego. The Mets will determine their player contingent later this month.

• Food poisoning struck the Brooklyn Cyclones, including fifth-round pick Jack Leathersich, who has not appeared since striking out the side in an inning on July 24.

• In his latest start, Harvey narrowly remained winless since a June 26 promotion to Double-A. Harvey limited Harrisburg to one run and four hits while walking two and striking out 10, including Nationals phenom Bryce Harper twice, in seven innings Thursday. However, Harvey received a no-decision.

• Buffalo third baseman Zach Lutz, who suffered a second concussion this season after again getting hit in the head with a pitch, has resumed hitting off a tee, throwing and running. He should return to games in the near future.

• Mike Nickeas’ promotion to the majors resulted in a trickle up with catchers in the minors. Dusty Ryan, who missed substantial time this season to get a meniscus tear repaired, moved from Binghamton to Buffalo. Jean Luc Blaquiere was activated from the disabled list with the B-Mets.

• Juan Lagares continues to sizzle since a promotion to Double-A. After consecutive multi-hit games, Lagares has lifted his average to .409 through 44 Eastern League at-bats while displaying solid bat speed and arm strength. Lagares suffered a gruesome ankle fracture with St. Lucie in late July last year and is still not in perfect form health-wise, so Mets brass is anxious to see how he performs in 2012 when healthier.

• Right-hander Taylor Whitenton (4-2, 2.61 ERA) successfully returned to Savannah’s rotation after missing two starts with a forearm strain. He was pulled after three scoreless innings to be cautious as he eases back into action.

• UCLA product Erik Goeddel’s next start should come with Savannah for the first time since May 23. The right-hander tossed three scoreless innings Monday in the Gulf Coast League as he works back from a shoulder strain.

• Brooklyn third baseman Richard Lucas has reached base in 24 straight games. Lucas, who ranks third in the New York-Penn League with a .340 average, is a fourth-round pick out of high school in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2007 and probably merits playing at a higher level. But the Mets valued getting him regular playing time at third base, and he would have been boxed out at higher levels by St. Lucie’s Jefry Marte and Savannah’s Aderlin Rodriguez. Lucas experienced shoulder soreness during spring training and when he was ready to play, it coincided with the start of Brooklyn’s season anyway.

• Outfielder Travis Taijeron, the organization’s 18^th-round pick out of Cal Poly Pomona, had five homers in a 10-game span with Brooklyn.

• Chin-lung Hu, who experienced throwing yips with Buffalo, is due to begin a rehab assignment shortly in the Gulf Coast League. Hu worked on switch-hitting while inactive, but it will be his call whether he takes that into games.

Adam Rubin’s farm report appears Wednesdays during the regular season