Mets staying patient with Jason Bay

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on July 25, 2012 at 12:05 PM, updated July 25, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Jason Bay.JPGJason Bay is hitting just .186 in 29 games this season.

NEW YORK --Today, the Mets offenses faces another stiff test in Stephen Strasburg hours after Gio Gonzalez shut them down last night and will do so without Jason Bay in the lineup again.

Bay, who has perhaps been one of the bigger disappointments on a roster littered with them, is hitting just .186 with five homers and eight RBI in 107 plate appearances.

Yet, the Mets aren't about to pull the plug the way they did yesterday with Lucas Duda, who was sent down to Triple-A to rectify what has been a brutal couple months at the plate. This morning, Terry Collins said a sample size of 29 games over four months and his last couple injury-plagued seasons doesn't justify a move just yet.

"I'm well-aware of how Jason's performed in the last two years due to the concussions and the shoulder problems and the other issues that he's had -- the broken rib," Collins said. "But when you're looking at a guy who's really been unable to get consistent playing time it's pretty tough to evaluate.

"It's pretty hard to ask him, 'Hey look your production's got to be picked up a bit' when you're not running him out there all the time."

Bay is getting paid $16 million this season.

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Collins said the team has Johan Santana penciled in to start either August 8 or 9 against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Santana was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday due to a sprained ankle.

Santana allowed 19 runs in 12 2/3 innings in his three starts before the DL.

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Here are today's lineups for the rare 12:10 p.m. start:

METS (47-50, 3rd place in NL East, 10.5 GB)

1. SS Ruben Tejada
2. LF Jordany Valdespin
3. 3B David Wright
4. 1B Ike Davis
5. 2B Daniel Murphy
6. RF Kirk Nieuwenhuis
7. C Josh Thole
8. CF Andres Torres
9. P Jeremy Hefner (1-3, 5.85 ERA)

NATIONALS (57-39, 1st place in NL East)

1. 2B Steve Lombardozzi
2. RF Bryce Harper
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman
4. 1B Adam LaRoche
5. LF Michael Morse
6. SS Danny Espinosa
7. CF Roger Bernadina
8. C Sandy Leon
9. P Stephen Strasburg (10-4, 2.85 ERA)

Jorge Castillo:;