Miguel Batista struggled in his spot start Monday, giving up six runs -- three earned -- in 3 2/3 innings against the Giants.

Batista allowed seven hits, including a couple of homers, and he walked three. The runs were unearned because of an error with two outs and the bases empty by Ike Davis in the third. Instead of bailing his fielder out, Batista walked the next guy he faced and then gave up a three-run homer to Nate Schierholtz. He'll head back to the pen now.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday that Miguel Batista will get save chances on the days that Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch are unavailable.

One could argue that Ramon Ramirez, Bobby Parnell and Manny Acosta are all superior alternatives, but Collins apparently prefers Batista's experience. Since he only figures to get a chance here or there, this situation doesn't figure to be of much interest to anyone outside of NL-only leagues.

Miguel Batista has been told that he'll be part of the Mets' Opening Day roster.

As expected. Batista hasn't been terribly impressive in Florida, holding a 5.59 ERA over six appearances, but he offers the team some versatility. The veteran righty turned 41 last month.

Miguel Batista is slated to start Saturday's Grapefruit League game.

This is a pretty clear sign that he'll make the team out of the bullpen. The Mets must decide by Friday whether to carry Batista on the Opening Day roster, pay him a $100,000 retention bonus in order to send him to the minors or grant him free agency.

Miguel Batista has a $100,000 retention bonus that must be exercised five days before Opening Day in order to avoid becoming a free agent.

ESPN New York's Adam Rubin considers Batista "pretty solid" for a spot in the bullpen with D.J. Carrasco likely to open the season on the disabled list. Batista posted a 2.64 ERA in 30 1/2 total innings for the Mets in 2011.

Mets re-signed RHP Miguel Batista to a minor league contract

Batista finished his 2011 campaign on a high note, tossing a two-hitter against the Reds in the Mets' season finale. He wound up posting a cool 2.64 ERA in 30 1/2 total innings for New York, and could contribute in a positive way this year as a kind of swing man.

According to FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, the Mets are looking to re-sign Miguel Batista.

Batista threw a two-hitter against the Reds in New York's 2011 season finale and wound up registering a 2.64 ERA in 30 1/2 innings for the team. He should come cheap.

Miguel Batista pitched a two-hitter against the Reds in Wednesday's season finale for his first shutout since 2006.

Obviously, the Reds just wanted this one over with. One has to be happy for the 40-year-old Batista, though. He was released by the Nationals earlier this season, and he was making just his sixth start in the last three years. He ended up with a 2.64 ERA in 30 1/2 innings with the Mets, so someone will give him a shot next spring if he wants to continue his career.

Miguel Batista will start the Mets' season finale next Wednesday.

R.A. Dickey had been slated to get the ball, but after Friday's rainout, he would have had to pitch on short rest. Batista holds a 3.86 ERA but a 9/11 K/BB ratio over 21 innings since joining the Mets.

Miguel Batista allowed just one run in six innings in a no-decision against the Marlins Tuesday.

He allowed five hits and four walks and struck out three. Batista has pitched surprisingly well in his first two big league starts since last July, limiting the Marlins to two runs on six hits and three walks over six frames in a win Thursday. We still wouldn't touch him in any fantasy league, but he's produced a solid 3.92 ERA so far.

Miguel Batista pitched surprisingly well in his first MLB start since last July, limiting the Marlins to two runs on six hits and three walks over six frames in a 7-5 win.

He struck out three. Batista actually technically made a start earlier this season for the Cardinals, but it was by design, as he didn't record a single out before a long rain delay. This solid outing likely has earned him more chances, though you'd be a fool to think he can produce many more quality starts. He'll get the Marlins again next week.

Miguel Batista will start Thursday's series finale against the Marlins.

Mets manager Terry Collins was also considering D.J. Carrasco for the assignment. Batista, 40, posted a 4.60 ERA and 16/19 K/BB ratio over 29 1/3 innings this season before being released by the Cardinals in July. He has made just two starts since the 2008 season and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues.

Mets manager Terry Collins said either Miguel Batista or D.J. Carrasco would get a spot start Thursday against the Marlins.

Batista is probably the favorite since he's been starting in the minors, but it will just depend on the pitchers' usage over the next few days. The Mets will go with R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee for Monday's doubleheader and then Mike Pelfrey on Tuesday and Chris Capuano on Wednesday.

Mets purchased the contract of RHP Miguel Batista from Triple-A Buffalo.

Batista flamed out with the Cardinals earlier this season and didn't pitch much better for Buffalo, holding a 4.24 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 10 games -- eight starts. He'll likely get a shot to fill in for the injured Jon Niese in the rotation but should be avoided in all fantasy formats.

Mets signed RHP Miguel Batista to a minor league contract.

Batista was released from the Cardinals near the end of June after posting a 4.60 and 16/19 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings. He won't be of much help to the Mets and could struggle to climb out of their minor league system.

Cardinals released RHP Miguel Batista.

Batista somehow managed to post a 2.01 ERA through the end of May despite awful peripherals. But, it finally caught up to him, as he allowed 10 runs in seven June innings while pushing his ERA up to 4.60, his WHIP to 1.57 and his K/BB ratio to 16/19. The 40-year-old might latch on somewhere, but his days as an effective reliever are long gone.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa insists that there was no gamesmanship involved before Friday's rain delay.

Reds manager Dusty Baker in so many words blamed the Cardinals for faulty information that caused him to burn Edinson Volquez, but La Russa said they received the same information as the Reds. "The information that we had was the same that the Reds had," La Russa said. "The same exact information. They said there was a window of 45 minutes to an hour and C.J. (Cherre, traveling secretary) talked to two different people with the Reds and said, 'Look, they aren't going to start their guy when we're only going to play a short amount of time.'" It sounds like La Russa just outsmarted Baker here.

With rain threatening to delay Friday's game, the Cardinals have decided to start reliever Miguel Batista instead of Kyle McClellan.

Manager Tony La Russa clearly doesn't want reliever-turned-starter McClellan getting warmed up and start the game only to be shut down early on. This likely means he'll be pushed back to Saturday, with Chris Carpenter starting Sunday's game. Jake Westbrook had been scheduled to start Sunday on three days' rest. Edinson Volquez is still scheduled to start Friday for the Reds.

The Cardinals confirmed Saturday that Miguel Batista has made the team as a middle reliever.

No surprise here. Batista was a favorite going in, and he has a 1.93 ERA this spring. This leaves one spot for Fernando Salas or Bryan Augenstein, though both could make the team if Brian Tallet's groin injury puts him on the DL.

Miguel Batista is the leader for the Cardinals' last bullpen spot.

"I'd have to ask Dave (Duncan) the politically correct answer to that and the only thing is, I know Dave doesn't have a politically correct category so that's why I'm glad you asked me so I can do the dance," manager Tony La Russa said. "But if you got to him somehow, I think he would say it is [Batista's] job to lose." Batista, who signed a minor league deal, is able to opt out if he's not guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster by the final week of spring training. The 40-year-old right-hander posted a solid 3.70 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 82 2/3 innings last season with the Nationals.