In three appearances, Livan Hernandez has let up four earned runs, nine hits and three walks, with three strike outs, in 7.2 innings pitched.

Jon Niese has given up four runs, four hits, four walks and struck out four in four innings through two starts.

In two games, Freddy Garcia has pitched 2.2 innings, yet let up six runs, five hits and and four walks, while topping out with an 87–mph fastball.

Tim Redding allowed five runs in his first appearance of the spring yesterday, including a pair of home runs to Univ. of Michigan – he was pulled after one out in the first.

Meanwhile, in his first outing in the WBC against the Netherlands, Pedro Martinez struck out four batters in three innings and did not allow a run.

…the Mets should continue to keep an eye on pedro, but let’s not get totally nuts here… i mean, he pitched against the Netherlands… note, Damaso Marte and Julian Tavarez each pitched in that game and did not allow a run while striking out a ton of hitters as well… 

However, according to today’s New York Post, Manuel has not yet decided on a starter for Saturday, adding, ‘Assuming there isn’t a rainout tonight, Manuel is likely to start Brandon Knight over Nelson Figueroa and Jon Niese tomorrow.’

Knight, on watching the game from the clubhouse, and seeing seven relief pitchers trot in to lock down the win, said:

“I was thinking, ‘Is this really happening right now.’  We were all in here, all of us who pitched, just kind of taking deep breaths saying, ‘Everything’s gonna be fine.’  To get that final out, it wasn’t that, ‘Yes!,’ it was more, ‘Good.’  Get it out of the way, and get back to business tomorrow where we have Johan going, which, we feel pretty good about that.”

Knight told reporters he was sent text messages from family and friends, and former players from Somerset, the Independent League team where he started this season.

This will most likely be Knight’s final start of the season, since the five-man rotation, including Pedro Martinez and Jon Niese, should stay on turn through the end of the year.

Therefore, expect the following rotation over the next few days:

Tuesday: Mike Pelfrey at Nationals
Wednesday: Brandon Knight at Nationals
Thursday: Johan Santana at Nationals
Friday: Oliver Perez at Braves

According to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, Brandon Knight is expected to get the call.

Speaking of starting pitchers, Manuel also said that Jon Niese will get his next start on Monday, Sept. 22, against the Cubs.

…i had a feeling it would be Nelson Figueroa, but knight does make more sense in that a) he has been used less, b) figgy seems to be part of the bullpen now, in a way that Jerry Manuel probably doesn’t want to mess with…

In his only start for the Mets this season, in July against the Cardinals, Knight let up four runs through five innings.

Knight will elect to join Team USA in preparation for the Olympics in Beijing.

…after the first inning the other night, brandon did a fair job the rest of the way…have fun in china, knight…

Since joining the Zephyrs, Knight is 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA in 11 appearances, during which he has struck out 49 batters and walked 10 in 39 innings.

Earlier today at Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde explained why Knight should be chosen, despite having the opportunity to pitch from the Olympic team this summer.

Martinez will likely rejoin the Mets next week, though Jerry Manuel told reporters that the team must be ‘cognizant of the healing process.

In six starts for the Patriots, the 32–year-old Knight had a 2.56 ERA in 38.2 innings pitched while striking out 50 batters.

In 11 career starts for the Yankees, in 2001 and 2002, Knight allowed 23 runs in 19 innings pitched while walking eight and striking out 14 batters.

According to the report, Knight will report to Triple-A New Orleans.