--LF Daniel Murphy is expected to be asked to play second base in the Arizona Fall League after completing the major league season. Getting Murphy experience at second base appears to signal the Mets' intent to trade Luis Castillo in the offseason, if possible. Castillo has underwhelmed since signing a four-year, $25 million contract last winter.
--SS Jose Reyes is looking for atonement this month. During last year's historic Mets collapse, when they squandered a seven-game division lead with 17 to play, Reyes hit .205 during the final month and didn't produce a steal after Sept. 15. --LHP Billy Wagner is scheduled to throw off a Shea Stadium mound again on Friday. If he progresses as expected, the closer will face batters later in the weekend, with his activation targeted for Tuesday, when the Mets open a series against the Nationals.
--CF Carlos Beltran has five home runs and 13 RBIs in his past 10 games. Beltran has played through right knee discomfort, which stemmed from a collision with plate umpire Ed Rapuano in Milwaukee on Monday.
--LHP Ricardo Rincon has gone unused since being called up Monday when rosters expanded. In fact, none of the Mets' bullpen call-ups were used during a three-game sweep in Milwaukee, even with the Mets holding a seven-run lead in the ninth inning of the series finale.
BY THE NUMBERS: 13-3 -- The Mets' record in Mike Pelfrey's last 16 starts. All three of the losses have come to the Marlins, including a 4-3 defeat Saturday in which Pelfrey allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings and received a no-decision.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We got knocked down, got off the deck, threw a wild left hook and landed -- and it put us back in first place. This was very big for us. Very big." -- Interim manager Jerry Manuel, on the Mets' comeback win Wednesday in Philadelphia after squandering a 7-0 lead and losing 8-7 the previous night.
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