Mejia likely headed back to Mets as they figure out rotation for 2011

The Mets face plenty of questions this offseason, but when it comes to the starting rotation, they could get a few answers next month with the expected call-up of Jenrry Mejia, who was promoted Saturday to Triple-A Buffalo.

Mejia is scheduled to make his first start for the Bisons Monday, but that should be a stepping-stone on his way to taking Pat Misch's spot as the No. 5 starter for the Mets in the final month of this season. The addition of Mejia could provide a sneak peak at the Mets' 2011 rotation - Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese and Mejia.

"That's a good group," manager Jerry Manuel said.

Barring a September miracle, Manuel probably won't be around to see if this rotation can transform the Mets into contenders next year. It's looking as though it's too late for that.

The Mets couldn't provide much help for Santana in last night's 4-1 loss to the Astros at Citi Field. Santana (10-9), coming off three consecutive complete games, gave up four runs in seven innings and suffered his third straight loss.

The Astros scored two runs in the first inning on soft singles by Carlos Lee and Tommy Manzella. That seemed to be plenty before Lee added a two-run homer in the fifth.

Santana may have had an off night, but Manuel can't pin the failures of this year's team on his starting pitchers, who collectively are 7-9 in their last 20 games despite a 2.64 ERA. Since the All-Star break, the Mets' rotation has allowed three or fewer runs in 30 of 41 starts with a 3.29 ERA, but their record is just 10-18.

It's an unusual cast, and Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner, is the only proven entity. But the others, with their distinctive styles, have formed a mostly reliable front five.

"Dickey even brought this up to me the other day," Pelfrey said. "We throw so many different looks at people. He throws a knuckleball. Santana has the unbelievable location. Niese is throwing cutters. Then you have me, the conventional righthander. You're not seeing the same thing over and over again."

With the Mets not looking to exceed this year's $130-million payroll by much, there seems no reason to break up their current rotation. Santana is due $22.5 million next year, Pelfrey and Dickey are arbitration-eligible, and the costs for Niese and Mejia will be in the mid-six figures.

The Mets still need to evaluate Mejia, 20. He is 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA in eight minor-league starts this season and had a scoreless streak of 172/3 innings at Double-A Binghamton before the promotion. He also had 36 strikeouts and 15 walks in 341/3 innings, with opponents batting .200 against him.

It took the Mets nearly two months to transform Mejia back into a successful starter, and for that reason, it's doubtful they would use him in relief again at any level.

"I think he has the ability," Manuel said. "I'd like to see if there has been any progress as far as the secondary pitches. We know that he has a couple pitches that he can survive with at this level. But if he adds to that, then he can be a guy that could start and be somewhat successful here."