Can Pedro save the Mets' season?

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manager Willie Randolph has one more ace up his sleeve if he is to save his job as the New York Mets' skipper: Pedro Martinez.

Martinez is set to return from the disabled list on Tuesday and face the San Francisco Giants. It will be his first start since straining his left hamstring in his first outing of the season on April 1 against Florida.

The right-hander lasted just 3 1/3 innings versus the Marlins, allowing four runs on four hits without a decision. It was his shortest start since a 2 2/3- frame effort on September 27, 2006.

Heading into play on Tuesday, the Mets find themselves fourth in the National League East, 4 1/2 games behind the front-running Phillies. At 28-28 and with a payroll exceeding $137 million, it is obvious New York is underachieving thus far.

It has been a season filled with turbulence so far for the Mets. Randolph has done little to draw attention away from his club with a series of odd and just plain stupid comments about the way his team is being perceived by outsiders and the media. That led to rumors about his job security. And while he recently got a vote of confidence from the front office, it did not come with a guarantee he would last all season.

Enter Martinez. Is the eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner enough to save the Mets' season? Is that too much to ask of his 36- year-old right arm? Can he help loosen the team's clubhouse?

"I have a feeling Pedro will stay healthy and be a big part of our success," Randolph told New York's official Web site. "I predict he'll be with us the rest of the year."

Bottom line is, Martinez's return can't hurt. As long as he can stay healthy (not a guarantee) and pitch even remotely close to the form he was once capable of, he can team with two-time unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana to form a dominating duo.

Also, a solid Pedro will take the pressure off of the reliable John Maine and still-growing Mike Pelfrey. In addition, it would shorten the Mets' needs at pitching. With Martinez back in the fold, New York might want to add just one middle-of-the-rotation guy to possibly replace a struggling Oliver Perez, whose inconsistency this year has to be driving the Mets' front office crazy.

And let's not forget that Martinez is on a mission of his own. The pending free agent needs to figure out if his body is capable of pitching past this year's contract, whether it be in New York or somewhere else. After all, Martinez missed all but five starts last year while recovering from rotator cuff surgery performed on October 5, 2006.

"If my arm is gone, or I have the same thing that I had done a year ago, I'll hang 'em," Martinez told the Mets' site on Friday. "I'm not going to go through rehab again. But if I'm healthy -- I said it clear, if I'm healthy -- I'd like to play for two or three more years."

SANTANA GETS NO. 100; PEREZ STRUGGLING

Speaking of Santana, the phenomenal left-hander picked up the 100th win of his career on Sunday when he bested the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 29-year-old held them to a run and six hits over 7 2/3 innings while improving to 7-3 this year and 100-47 in his career.

"I felt good tonight (Sunday)," Santana said. "Everything was working out pretty good. It always helps when you get the lead and put runs on the board. My teammates did a pretty good job of putting the ball in play and scoring runs."

The victory was just the latest accolade in Santana's career. He is a three- time All-Star and has a Gold Glove on his resume. He has also struck out 1,452 batters over 1,390 1/3 career innings.

Santana's victory was part of a solid run by the Mets, who had won five of six before Monday's setback in San Francisco.

That winning run was halted by Perez, who was horrid on Monday. Perez gave up six runs while recording just an out versus the Giants, marking the second time this year he failed to make it past the second inning.

At 4-4 with a 5.70 ERA, Perez needs to find his consistency or risk falling out of New York's rotation in what is a contract year for the left-hander.

WHO IS HOT

Jose Reyes has reached base in 33 straight games dating back to April 27. That run is tied for the longest in franchise history with Darryl Strawberry, who accomplished the feat from April 25-June 1, 1987.

Reyes also has a 18-game hitting streak in the works and he is hitting .329 (26-for-79) in that span with 14 runs scored, five doubles, five homers and 12 RBI.

Scott Schoeneweis has allowed just one run in his last 18 1/3 innings, good for a 0.49 ERA. He hasn't allowed a run in 22 of his 25 appearances this season.

WHO IS NOT

Perez is 0-1 over his last three starts with an 11.92 ERA in that span. He has walked 14 batters over his last three outings.

UP NEXT

The Mets play the second contest of their three-game set with the Giants Tuesday night. Martinez is countered by San Francisco's Barry Zito (1-8, 5.53 ERA). In Wednesday's finale, Maine (5-4, 3.66) takes on Matt Cain (2-3, 4.38).

New York continues its trip on the west coast with four against the Padres. Pelfrey (2-6, 4.98) starts Thursday's opener against Josh Banks (2-0, 0.00). Santana (7-3, 3.20) pitches on Friday, followed by Perez and then Martinez in Sunday's finale.