Oliver Perez going for the Mets tonight. He’s given up just 14 runs over his last nine starts.

Using a starter out of the pen is all but a dead issue. John Maine was their first choice, but his fastball isn’t there and he’s got shoulder issues. Perez is pitching too well to be taken out of the rotation. They won’t screw with Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez is too delicate. That leaves Mike Pelfrey, but manager Jerry Manuel doesn’t want to mess with him, either.

SS Jose Reyes
LF Nick Evans
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Fernando Tatis
2B Damion Easley
C Ramon Castro
LP Oliver Perez

ATLANTA BRAVES

CF Gregor Blanco
SS Yunel Escobar
3B Chipper Jones
LF Omar Infante
C Brian McCann
RF Jeff Francoeur
1B Casey Kotchman
2B Martin Prado
RP Jo-Jo Reyes

The Mets will go with a closer-by-committee format while Wagner is shelved.

-Rehab games at New Orleans for Ryan Church and Trot Nixon.

-Jerry Manuel said he would talk to Duaner Sanchez to see if anything is bothering him.

-Jose Reyes back in the lineup after getting the day off.

-Tonight’s closer? Your guess is as good as mine.

John Maine and Duaner Sanchez have health issues and Carlos Delgado is back in a funk. Hopefully, it won’t be as long as the last one.

The Mets’ batting order:

2B Argenis Reyes
LF Nick Evans
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Fernando Tatis
SS Damion Easley
C Ramon Castro
RHP John Maine

-Ryan Church continues his rehab assignment today at Triple-A New Orleans. The Mets said today and tomorrow and he’ll be evaluated. That doesn’t mean he’ll be activated.

-Luis Ayala is to show up today. Expect Eddie Kunz to be optioned. But, he’ll be brought up when the rosters are expanded, Sept. 1. Damn, is it that late already? The season is flying by.

-Jose Reyes is to get the day off. His plans are to sit next to Jerry Manuel on the bench and annoy him. Good plan to get back on the field.

-The last time David Wright had a day off, he came back with a homer. ``I’m not making any predictions,’’ he said.

The pen has thrown 384 2/3 innings this season, which is roughly three a game, and is on pace to throw over 500. That’s going to bite them in the butt eventually, and the solution is what Santana did yesterday and not Luis Ayala.

Collectively, six innings a game isn’t good enough from the starters. They need at least seven, and if they are going to do anything this year, that must improve.

Also on the plus side is the Mets haven’t played down to the competition on this road trip.

``We’re not playing down to the level of the teams we’re playing,’’ Brian Schneider said. ``We’re playing to our abilities. We are taking care of our business.’‘

A lot going on today:

-The Mets get reliever Luis Ayala for Anderson Hernandez. Let’s not get carried away and think he’s the answer. He is 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA.

-David Wright gets the day off.

-Ryan Church left Florida for New York because of the approaching bad weather.

-Billy Wagner returned to New York to have his left elbow examined.

Maybe there is a new definition for “vintage Pedro” and last night might have been it.

He still knows how to pitch and the Mets need him. I have been saying the Mets won’t bring him back, but I am having second thoughts.

If he pitches like this down the stretch he will get a contract offer.

SS Jose Reyes
2B Argenis Reyes
3B Damion Easley
1B Carlos Delgado
CF Carlos Beltran
LF David Murphy
RF Fernando Tatis
C Brian Schneider
LP Johan Santana

By now you know Billy Wagner won’t be ready by Monday, so the Mets will continue with their patchwork situation at closer. Aaron Heilman got it done last night, so I would assume it would be him again tonight.

``I wouldn’t say I am ready,’’ Wagner said. ``Right now it is stiff and sore.’’

Wagner doubts he can throw in back-to-back games, let alone in three straight games.

At first, Wagner tried to be sarcastic and said, ``I’m 37, I’m not going to be pain free,’’ but when pressed admitted to stiffness in his elbow.

Wagner said this less than a half-hour after manager Jerry Manuel said: ``The main thing is he’s healthy … he should be ready to go Monday.’’

Initially, pitching coach Dan Warthen said Wagner should be ready, but shortly after being told of the closer’s comments, there was a closed doors meeting in the manager’s office.

Assistant general manager Tony Bernazard said Wagner would be re-examined in New York before the throws again. Bernazard said another MRI has not been scheduled, nor are there plans for him to see an orthopedic specialist such as Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

``I can play catch,’’ Wagner said. ``When I try to amp it up and go full bore it is OK for awhile.’’

But, it doesn’t stay that way.

Wagner, however, isn’t so optimistic, saying there’s still stiffness in his left elbow and he doubts he’ll can throw back-to-back games.

``I would say I’m not ready,’’ Wagner said.

Wagner said he’s fine when he plays catch, and OK for awhile when he amps it up, but he can’t sustain. He said he’ll talk with the trainers and staff, but couldn’t commit to being ready by Monday.

SS Jose Reyes
LF Nick Evans
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Fernando Tatis
2B Damion Easley
C Ramon Castro
RP Pedro Martinez

Mets taking early BP. Murphy, Evans, Chavez.

Pedro Martinez will make his fourth start since July 12 tonight. He’s been getting better, but he’s still Pedro and I can’t say for sure he won’t break down again.

Billy Wagner to throw a simulated game today. When he comes back look for Eddie Kunz to go down. If Jerry Manuel has no faith in him when the game is in the balance he shouldn’t be here.

``We should have won that game,’’ Beltran said. ``We let that game get away from us, and if we’re going to be the team we say we are, we can’t keep having games like that.’’

The Mets responded by sweeping Washington, and open a four-game series against the Pirates tonight. Anything less than winning three of four is not acceptable.

``That’s something that’s been a weakness for us all year,’’ Beltran said of the Mets’ struggles against losing teams. ``We haven’t played well against teams with that are below .500. It’s something that has to stop.’’

The Mets are 2-7 against Atlanta; 0-3 against Houston; 1-2 against Pittsburgh; 2-5 against San Diego; and 1-2 against Seattle.

-Look for Eddie Kunz to be optioned when Wagner is ready. Manager Jerry Manuel said he’s not comfortable using Kunz with the game on the line.

-Ryan Church played in a rehab game in Florida and went 1-for-3 with a RBI. He played as the DH. No word on when he will play the outfield.

-Trot Nixon went 2-for-2 in a rehab game in Florida.

-Luis Castillo is supposed to play at Binghamton tonight.

SS Jose Reyes
2B Argenis Reyes
3B David Wright
1B Carlos Delgado
CF Carlos Beltran
LF Daniel Murphy
RF Fernando Tatis
C Brian Schneider
RP Mike Pelfrey