Greetings from Turner Field, last day of the trip.

Today’s reading includes a recap of last night’s game, the one that dropped the Mets out of first and into the wild-card lead after Pedro Martinez gave up three more first-inning runs. He knows he needs to solve this problem for his next and final start of the regular season, which come Thursday night at Shea vs. the Cubs. Pedro talks about how he hasn’t really been at peace this season with his injury problems and the death of his dad.

There’s also a Mets notebook detailing John Maine’s simulated game and his hopes that the shoulder will bounce back today so he can take his next simulated session tomorrow and be activated later in the week as a one-inning reliever.

Be back with the lineups later.

It was interesting before the game. Jerry Manuel was basically asked if he had one game to win and had to start someone other than Johan Santana, would he pick Pedro Martinez?

Manuel didn’t want to answer, which appeared to mean the answer was no.

Then he answered and indicated Mike Pelfrey or Oliver Perez would be better choices because of their dominance at times this season.

Anyway, Pedro has sure looked hittable a lot of times down this stretch without the good velocity anymore—i.e. tonight’s three-run, four-hit Atlanta first. But he is 36 (he turns 37 in about a month) and in the final year of his contract. He would be no better than No. 4 in a playoff rotation, it would seem. Agreed?

Here are the lineups for tonight:
Mets
Jose Reyes, SS
Daniel Murphy, LF
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Delgado, 1B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Ryan Church, RF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Brian Schneider, C
Pedro Martinez, P
Braves
Josh Anderson, CF
Martin Prado, 3B
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Brian McCann, C
Omar Infante, SS
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Brandon Jones, LF
Jorge Campillo, P

Jerry Manuel said one reason he’s batting Murphy second is he wants to get him the extra at-bats from hitting him high in the order. The manager has good reason. The rookie is batting .467 this month (14 for 30). He figures to be playing a lot now with some righty starters ahead, including the final two in this series. … David Wright followed up his 1 for 18 with a 2-for-5, two-RBI night in the opener. Manuel said there had been mechanical trouble in D.C., but Wright says he feels fine up there now. … Manuel still has some skepticism about John Maine’s comeback attempt as a one-inning reliever and says they can’t afford him as a finesse pitcher right now, but he admitted it would be a big boost for the bullpen if Maine can return in the final week. There will be another simulated game Monday at Shea after today’s 24-pitch Maine event.

John Maine threw a 24-pitch simulated game against five Mets hitters today at Turner Field in his bid to come off the DL and work as a one-inning reliever in the final week of the season and possibly beyond. The results were mixed. His troublesome right shoulder didn’t hurt, but he isn’t ready to be activated on Monday. Dan Warthen had talked about that yesterday as being the best-case scenario. The pitching coach compared Maine’s velocity to the first week of spring training and said Maine would have to throw another simulated game on Monday when the Mets are back at Shea. “I thought he was rusty,” Warthen said. “The ball was coming out decently. Certainly, we don’t have the full adrenaline of a baseball game and a pennant race. I think this is going to warrant at least one more time doing the same thing. “It would be really rude of us to try to put John in a tough situation the way he’s throwing right now.” However, the next simulated session won’t happen if the shoulder is hurting tomorrow in the wake of this session. Both Warthen and Maine seem to agree that the comeback would be over if that’s the case. “I just feel like a little knot, a little tightness back there, but no pain, which is good,” Maine said. “I was a couple of ticks off because I hadn’t seen a hitter. The control was not there. But it was pretty good. I think it really all depends on what it’s like tomorrow. If I can’t throw tomorrow, then there’s no way.”

Say this for the Mets: They may not be pretty but they’re resilient. After a sloppy seventh allowed the Braves to tie it, the Mets rebounded with that four spot in the eighth and are back in first. The postgame talk was mostly about Daniel Murphy. The rookie is putting up some incredible numbers, .374 overall, .467 in September and .500 on this trip after his go-ahead two-run double.

Jerry Manuel indicated that he doesn’t want to play him against lefties as well as righties because the lineup is lefty heavy. So his fellow rookie, Nick Evans, will still get his time as the righty half of the platoon. And it was hard to complain about his night with that long solo homer. It doesn’t hurt having Murphy to pinch hit in big spots, either. It seems unusual that young player is such a good pinch hitter, but he’s 5 for 11 with a homer and five RBI.

Jose Reyes is making a September impact now, too. He has seven hits in the last three games after his three in this one, including his second leadoff homer in three games.

OK, that’s it for tonight.

The pregame chatter here in Atlanta revolved mainly around John Maine. He will try to pass one last test and then hope to be activated Monday. He will throw a one-inning simulated game against hitters today at Turner Field, because if he comes back it would be as no more than a one-inning reliever. Maine has his hopes high, but pitching coach Dan Warthen isn’t high on his arm holding up. But we will see how he bounces back on Sunday. That will be the big indicator. Warthen did say that there’s a chance Maine could be activated on Monday.

Luis Castillo is back at second, and Jerry Manuel hopes he can remain out there the rest of the way because of his experience. Argenis Reyes, the rookie, is in an 0-for-24 skid after starting there the previous three games. When Castillo grounded out in the first, it dropped him to 2 for 21 in September.

Jose Reyes, on the other hand, is starting to give the Mets what he didn’t give them last September. His leadoff homer marked his second in three days and the 14th of his career. He had two hits in each of the previous two games in Washington.

If the Mets and Brewers need to have a playoff for the wild card, it will be at Shea Stadium on Sept. 29. The Mets won the coin flip today.

Major League Baseball conducted previous flips on Sept. 12. Philadelphia would host the Brewers in the event those teams have the same record and a tiebreaker game is needed.

The Chicago White Sox would host the Minnesota Twins if they finish with the same record in the AL Central title and a tiebreaker is needed.

Meanwhile, here is tonight’s lineup against Braves’ left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes:

Jose Reyes, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Carlos Delgado, 1B
Ramon Castro, C
Ryan Church, RF
Nick Evans, LF
Oliver Perez, P

I’ll be traveling to Atlanta today for the next series, so here’s the question while I’m in transit to ponder and then post a response: 10 games to play, a half game out of first, 1 1/2 up in the wild card. Do you think the Mets win the division, win the wild card or miss the playoffs?

Much of the postgame talk from the 7-2 win in the Washington series finale was about the value of Johan Santana, the type of guy they didn’t have last September. This was his 12th straight quality start. He’s 14-7 with a 2.65 ERA, and he should be a 20-game winner. And he gets to start two of the final 10. Right now, he’s lined up to pitch Tuesday against the Cubs and the Sunday finale against the Marlins. Jerry Manuel said the only way he would alter the rotation is if Jon Niese flames out Monday against the Cubs. The rookie would also be down at this point to start next Saturday.

There were other good signs in this game, like a second straight two-hit night for Jose Reyes, and a pair of RBI singles by Ryan Church, who had been lost at the plate. And Brian Schneider had his first two-homer game since 2003. Schneider has hit seven of his nine homers in his last 22 starts. By the way, Schneider, Mike Pelfrey, Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans got a White House tour in the morning arranged through Schneider’s father.

Al Reyes was released. Jerry Manuel said he had unfavorable reports about his mound work at Double-A Binghamton, that his velocity was down. That’s why he was never used in relief after being called up Sept. 1. These games are just too important.

This morning, you can read about Santana and the game in The Journal News and at LoHud.com. Plus there’s a Mets notebook on Church’s struggles, John Maine’s comeback hopes, the second-base situation and Aaron Heilman listed a probable for October if there is an October.

I’ll be back with the lineups from Turner Field later in the day.

First, a little news. For those of you who wanted to see Al Reyes get his shot in relief, it’s not going to happen. The Mets just released him. Also, fourth catcher Gustavo Molina was given permission to go home to Venezuela to get ready for winter ball.

Lastings Milledge helped out his old team by the way he played Daniel Murphy’s single in the first. But Tim Redding looks very hittable tonight. Good signs for the Mets: Jose Reyes showing signs of life in September. And Brian Schneider is keeps delivering some surprising power.

Update, 9:05: Well, the Mets have certainly gotten their $137.5 million worth from Santana through six. But how long can he go? He was at 86 pitches, just 24 balls by the way.

Santana had to appreciate the tack-on runs. After the Mets got one in the first, they scored two, two, one and one over the next four innings.

Here is the Mets’ batting order for tonight’s game:

Jose Reyes, SS
Daniel Murphy, LF
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Delgado, 1B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Ryan Church, RF
Argenis Reyes, 2B
Brian Schneider, C
Johan Santana, P

Nationals
Anderson Hernandez, 2B
Cristian Guzman, SS
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Lastings Milledge, CF
Elijah Dukes, RF
Aaron Boone, 1B
Willie Harris, LF
Wil Nieves, C
Tim Redding, P

John Maine made 10 throws on flat ground from about 45-50 feet and then the Mets encouraged him to get up on the mound for the first time since going on the DL Aug. 24 and test that right shoulder. He threw 10 pitches, not fully airing it out, and felt a knot in the shoulder. But he was encouraged that there was no pain and feels that it will loosen up with more throwing. Jerry Manuel wants to see him on the mound a couple more times before deciding if it’s worth the risk to bring him back. Maine thinks he can get back to pitch out of the pen in a week, near the end of the final homestand.

Ryan Church was talking before the game that he feel like he’sl going through a second spring training after missing so much time with post-concussion syndrome. He hasn’t been the same hitter since he got back.

Manuel said Aaron Heilman would probably be on the playoff roster if he had to pick one today. Can hear Mets fans moaning about that way all the way here in D.C., but Manuel said they’re going to need him to get important outs. Manuel did indicate that he thinks Heilman has naturally lost some confidence due to his struggles.

It sounded like Manuel wouldn’t hesitate to use Bobby Parnell in relief again after seeing the bullpen’s work last night.

Obviously Manuel was joking last night about having Johan Santana throw 170 pitches tonight, but it will be interesting to see how much he tries to get out of him if the game is close. Manuel joked again before the game that he should have said 175.

Today you can read about the Mets surviving their game last night in Washington, a game that should’ve have been much easier that it turned out to be. But it went from 8-2 to 9-7. Carlos Beltran was particularly pointed in his exasperation with the bullpen’s continued struggles at this crucial point.

There’s also the story about Damion Easley’s torn quad.

Perhaps tonight will be different with Johan Santana going. But Jerry Manuel cracked late last night that his guys could turn a laugher into a tearjerker.

The Mets’ original thought that Fernando Tatis was done for the year when he separated his shoulder on Tuesday night may still turn out to be true. Or it may have been premature. Tatis has a Grade 3 separation. The treatment will be conservative at this point.

“It means they’re going to try to rehab it first,” Omar Minaya said. “If it doesn’t work out, he’ll have to get operated.”

But if it works out, Tatis can return to trying baseball activities in two or three weeks. Minaya said that means he “possibly could come back in the playoffs.” The GM said the NLCS would be the earliest. Of course, the Mets would have to get there first. And with this bullpen …

The Mets survived another shaky night from the relievers. They used a franchise-record-tying eight pitchers in a nine-inning game. Finally, a player came out and expressed his exasperation with the bullpen. That would be Carlos Beltran. Jerry Manuel didn’t sound too thrilled, either. He jokingly said he would ask Johan Santana for 170 pitches to get through the series finale. But at least the Mets were hitting again.

And Beltran had a large two-way game, standing out in center with an assist and running down Ryan Zimmerman’s drive to the wall with two out and two on in the eighth, and with homers from both sides of the plate. It was only the 18th time in franchise history that’s happened.

That’s a wrap from D.C. for the night. Feel free to chime in with any thoughts.

Fernando Tatis was examined by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek and was diagnosed with a Grade 3 separation of his right shoulder (Grade 1 is the worst). The surgery that was originally believed to be likely isn’t planned right now. The injury will be treated conservatively through rehab. Tatis can return to try baseball activities in two to three weeks. What that means for a possible return to play if the Mets make the playoffs and go well into October is unclear right now.

These managers usually like to break up the lefties, so the switch-hitting Argenis Reyes batting seventh breaks up Ryan Church and Brian Schneider. Manuel looks like he picked the right lineup, or maybe the Nationals pitching has something to do with it. The Mets are finally hitting again. Reyes really set a tone with that leadoff homer.

The team still appeared confident after Tuesday night’s loss and it’s showing, at least so far tonight through 3 1/2.

The Mets just lost one important right-handed bat when Fernando Tatis separated his shoulder last night, a season-ending injury.

And before tonight’s game, it came out that Damion Easley has a small tear in the right quad that he injured running out a double-ball play against the Braves last Saturday. He’s still hoping to be back before the end of the regular season, but it’s questionable right now. Easley is hitting .290 against lefties. Luis Castillo is hobbled by hip and knee problems, according to Jerry Manuel, who isn’t starting him for the second straight game and thinks the periodic breaks are be beneficial to him. Castillo is 2 for 20 in September. So rookie Argenis Reyes is starting again.

Here’s the batting order against the Nationals, who will start right-hander Shairon Martis:

Jose Reyes, SS
Daniel Murphy, LF
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Delgado, 1B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Ryan Church, RF
Argenis Reyes, 2B
Brian Schneider, C
Brandon Knight, P