Weather permitting (it’s been raining at Shea Stadium most of the afternoon), the Mets will try to reduce their magic number tonight when they open a three-game series with the Braves behind Johan Santana (pictured). Santana has been living up to every penny of his $137.5 million contract lately, winning six consecutive decisions after a stretch of hard-luck letdowns. He is coming off a 6-3 win over the Phillies last Sunday night but is 0-3 in his career against Atlanta.

Santana will be faced by ex-Met Mike Hampton, who has made just nine starts this year due to injury. Hampton is the fifth consecutive lefty faced by the Mets, which is a big reason why Jerry Manuel once again will have Damion Easley at second base and Fernando Tatis in left field.

Manuel said before the game that catcher Brian Schneider has been scratched due to a knee infection (Schneider’s second infection of the season), so Robinson Cancel will start behind the plate.

As for the overall lineup, the 82-63 Mets — who are up on the Phillies by three games in the NL East — will look like this:

Jose Reyes SS

Ryan Church RF

David Wright 3B

Carlos Beltran CF

Carlos Delgado 1B

Fernando Tatis LF

Damion Easley 2B

Ramon Castro C

Johan Santana LHP (13-7, 2.70)

The 65-82 Braves will counter with:

Omar Infante LF

Kelly Johnson 2B

Martin Prado 3B

Brian McCann C

Yunel Escobar SS

Casey Kotchman 1B

Jeff Francoeur RF

Josh Anderson CF

Mike Hampton LHP (2-2, 5.60)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: SNY.