With the Mets needing to run the table to hit 100 victories for the year, the New York Daily News’ Peter Botte hangs around after yesterday’s 5-1 loss to Washington and remains focused on everything but Philip Humber pitching a scoreless 9th in his big league debut.

Carlos Beltran (strained left quad) hoped to return tonight after missing six straight games, and Pedro Martinez (calf) remains on target to start Wednesday after coming through what he termed a “good” bullpen session before yesterday’s game. Martinez otherwise offered a dismissive “no comment” after the loss, although he semi-playfully had referred to himself earlier in the day as “as a dead raccoon being picked at by 50 (media) vultures.”

Trachsel also felt that way after he followed his finest performance of the season – 6-1/3 shutout innings Monday in the division clincher over Florida – with another uneven outing. Trachsel was lifted trailing 3-0 after allowing eight hits in five-plus innings of work. He limited the damage by wiggling out of trouble as he consistently has maneuvered around repeated questions about his spot in the postseason rotation.

“Tryouts are for spring training. If 15 wins are not enough, I don’t know what to tell you,” said Trachsel, whose ERA nudged up a smidge to 4.97. “What else would I do? You’re going to put somebody in the bullpen who’s never pitched in the bullpen before? All possibilities exist, but I don’t have any answers except that I’m a starting pitcher.”

Full credit to MASN’s Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek, who upon reviewing the replay of Alfonso Soriano’s threw cutting down Fred Sanford at 2nd base in the 4th inning, admitted the Mets were jobbed.

With a pair of steals yesterday, Jose Reyes became the first Met to swipe 60 bases in back to back campaigns.  Considering that as recently as two seasons ago, Reyes spent as much time on the DL as he did sliding headfirst, this is a remarkable achievement.

C Ramon Castro, last seen straining an oblique muscle while warming up for the Cyclones, caught 5 innings in an instructional league game yesterday, and is eligible to come of the DL.   No word on when ceremonies will be held to retire Kelly Stinnett’s number.