Ryan Church will be back in the lineup tonight for the first time in more than seven weeks when the Mets open a four-game home series with the Astros behind ace Johan Santana. Santana is coming off a three-hit, complete game shutout of the Pirates last Sunday in Pittsburgh and has won each of his past two starts. Overall, he is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two career starts against the Astros.

As for Jerry Manuel’s lineup, he is having Church hit seventh in the lineup until the right fielder gets his bearings after sitting for so long with post-concussion syndrome. The red-hot Carlos Delgado, coming off a 5-for-5 night Thursday against the Braves, also is back in the cleanup role again.

Here is the overall lineup for the 71-57 Mets, who have won nine of their past 10:

Jose Reyes SS

Argenis Reyes 2B

David Wright 3B

Carlos Delgado 1B

Carlos Beltran CF

Daniel Murphy LF

Ryan Church RF

Brian Schneider C

Johan Santana LHP (11-7, 2.75)

The 64-63 Astros are going with this lineup:

Ty Wigginton LF

Mark Loretta 2B

Miguel Tejada SS

Lance Berkman 1B

Geoff Blum 3B

Hunter Pence RF

Darin Erstad CF

Brad Ausmus C

Roy Oswalt RHP (11-8, 4.28)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: SNY.