The Mets have placed ace Johan Santana on the 15-day disabled list one day after his third straight disastrous start.
Manager Terry Collins said Santana was still feeling the lingering effects of a twisted ankle suffered July 6 against the Cubs. Santana was injured covering first base when Reed Johnson stepped on his right foot while beating out an infield single to lead off the fifth inning.
He stayed in the game after the injury, but allowed five runs and six hits in the inning. His final line was an ugly seven earned runs and 13 hits in 4 2/3 innings. In his next start, July 15 at Atlanta, he allowed six earned runs in five innings.
Santana allowed six earned runs in three innings Friday night against the Dodgers. He surrendered two-run homers to Matt Kemp and Luis Cruz.
Speculation about Santana’s health being a problem after his 134-pitch no-hitter on June 1 has lingered due to a 6.54 ERA in eight starts since.
“That no-hitter stuff was a long time ago,” Santana told reporters after Friday night’s loss. “I’m OK, just not able to execute. I feel OK. I don’t feel my best right now.”
Collins said Santana was not injured after the game, but did say they might need to skip a start.
“He’s not hurt,” Collins said. “We’re going to talk about some alternatives as soon as I’m done in here [with the media]. Skipping a start, backing him up some — those are some of the things we are going to discuss.”
That changed Saturday when Collins said Santana had spoken to him and said he was favoring the ankle and using all upper body instead of pushing off properly.
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