Keep the Tums handy

With the news that Billy Wagner is on the DL with a left forearm strain, Mets manager Jerry Manuel said that Aaron Heilman would be the closer. Mmmm... maybe not.

Heilman allowed his ninth homer of the season in Tuesday night's series opener against the Padres, a three-run job that turned a 6-2 lead into a 6-5 nailbiter. Thankfully, Joe Smith and Scott Schoenweis were able to close out the game and end the Mets' four-game losing streak. Mike Pelfrey picked up his 10th win of the season, allowing nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The good news is that Fernando Tatis is still playing out of his mind. His three-run homer gave the Mets a 4-2 lead, and then Dan Murphy knocked in a run in the seventh (the kid looks good). The margin grew to 6-2 in the eighth when Nick Evans doubled, scoring Carlos Beltran, who came around on Jody Gerut's throwing error.

The bullpen situation, however, is scary. Who do you trust the most? Pedro Feliciano
threw 1 1/3 perfect innings Tuesday but he has been far from consistent this season. No one has been steady. Looks like Manuel may need to manage with his gut, like Willie did. And we know how that turned out.