--RHP Brian Stokes has limited opponents to two runs in 17 1/3 innings since moving to the Mets' bullpen after an Aug. 9 spot start. Stokes has risen in the relief corps' pecking order to the point that interim manager Jerry Manuel summoned him in the eighth inning of Sunday's doubleheader nightcap against the Phillies. Stokes required one pitch to get the inning's final out on a grounder by LF Pat Burrell.
--1B Carlos Delgado is emerging as the Mets' best candidate for the National League MVP Award. Since Willie Randolph's firing as manager in mid-June, Delgado is hitting .279 with 24 home runs and 68 RBI in 73 games. --LHP Pedro Feliciano appeared in both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Phillies. That lifted his MLB-high relief-appearance total to 76. He's seven relief appearances shy of the Mets' single-season record of 83, set by Mike Stanton in 2004.
--C Ramon Castro is expected to return from the disabled list Friday, when the Mets open a series against the Atlanta Braves. Castro has been sidelined for two weeks with a right hamstring strain.
--LHP Johan Santana hasn't lost since June 28, when he was outpitched by the Yankees' Andy Pettitte. The Mets have won Santana's last seven starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 281 -- Steals by Mookie Wilson in his Mets career. SS Jose Reyes matched that franchise-record mark Sept. 3 in Milwaukee.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was good. I'm starting to get the stroke back. It's been a hectic year. I don't want to throw this last month away. I want to build on things, try to get back to how I was in the first half and finish strong." -- RF Ryan Church, whose grand slam Sept. 3 in Milwaukee was his first home run since June 1, before a seven-week absence to deal with post-concussion symptoms.
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