The Mets are certainly putting a lot of pressure on young John Maine tonight. The current ace of the staff needs another good outing as he tries to play the stopper role to save the woefully inconsistent Mets offense.

One thing seems certain, however. The Jason Vargas experiment may be all but over.

You have to assume Mike Pelfrey will get one more start when injured starter Jorge Sosa’s spot in the rotation comes up on Friday, and he better make the most of it. Pelfrey has had six major league starts this season alone, and while he has shown signs of promise, it’s time for him to show ample improvement.

The former first round pick has had ample time to get his feet wet in the Major Leagues. With the trade deadline looming closer and closer and the return of Pedro Martinez at least a month away, the Mets need Pelfrey to, if nothing else, keep them in the ballgame every once in awhile and keep his own trade value from plummeting any further. Once a seemingly sure thing, Pelfrey is looking more and more like the long lost fourth member of Generation K (Where have you gone, Paul Wilson?).

As bad as the starting pitching has been, the offense may be worse. Is it too much to ask for a comeback victory every once in awhile? Or even a late inning, clutch hit? I don’t know what the numbers are, but nobody in the lineup is consistent with runners in scoring position. One way or another, this needs to be addressed, and I don’t think the return of Moises Alou is the answer.

Outfielder Marlon Anderson was released by the Dodgers today, and this seems like a no-brainer for Omar Minaya. Anderson was terrific off the bench for the Mets in 2005, is a substantial improvement as a left hand bat  off the bench over Ricky Ledee. Although he’s been hurt, he’s almost 13 years younger than Franco…

Let’s hope the Mets can turn things around in field formally known as Enron. Houston is fading fast, and maybe a sweep on the road heading into the All-Star break will be enough to persuade Astros GM Tim Purpura to begin his inevitable firesale by sending Roy Oswalt to Queens.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m just glad no Mets pitcher will have to stare down Kaz Matsui at the plate tonight… I need some advil.