--RHP Brandon Knight, an Olympic bronze medalist, is expected to make a spot start Wednesday against the Nationals. Knight's services are required because a rainout Friday knocked LHP Johan Santana off turn. Knight allowed four runs in five innings against St. Louis on July 26 in his lone start for the Mets before joining Team USA.

--RHP John Maine is expected to accompany the Mets on this week's road trip and should pick up a baseball Monday for the first time since landing on the disabled list with a bony deposit behind his right shoulder. Maine will require winter surgery to shave down the bone, but team officials hope he will be available for a postseason contribution in relief if the Mets qualify.

--LFs Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans, both now big-league contributors, were named the organization's co-minor league players of the year by the Mets. LHP Jon Niese, who tossed eight scoreless innings Saturday against the Braves, was named the Mets' minor league pitcher of the year. All three spent the majority of the season at Class AA Binghamton.

BY THE NUMBERS: 100 -- RBI plateau reached by David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran. It marked the third time the Mets have three 100-RBI players.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He was scared. He tells Cody Ross, 'Let's go!' Tells Elijah Dukes, 'I didn't do it on purpose.'" -- Reliever Joe Smith, lightheartedly, about teammate Mike Pelfrey's disparate reactions after plunking Florida's diminutive Ross and Washington's imposing Dukes with pitches that drew the opponents' ire in recent starts.