John Maine should be working out of the Mets bullpen next week, before the regular season ends, the New York Daily News reported.
The right-hander, who hasn't appeared in a game since Aug. 23 against the Astros, threw 10 pitches off a mound Thursday at Nationals Park. It was Maine's first time working off a mound since getting shut down nearly a month ago with pain behind his right shoulder. Maine is expected to face batters Saturday at Turner Field in a simulated setting before being activated for next week's homestand. Maine, who has a bone spur grating on the rotator cuff, will require offseason surgery. Although he's expected to re-enter the rotation next season, he's viewed as a potential bullpen reinforcement this October, if the Mets qualify for the postseason. The bullpen has been in disarray with the loss of closer Billy Wagner to Tommy John surgery and underperformances by Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez.
Maine said he felt a knot and tightness behind his right shoulder during Thursday's brief session on a mound, but not the pain he experienced before getting shut down. He was throwing about 85 mph -- preferring not to air it out in his first session.
"Hopefully it will loosen up back there," Maine said.
METS 7, NATIONALS 2: Brian Schneider belted a pair of homers against his old team, and Johan Santana tossed seven innings of one-run ball to pick up his 14th win as the Mets opened a 1 1/2-game lead over the Brewers in the wild-card standings. The Mets salvaged a split of the four-game series with the Nationals after dropping the first two games.
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