(UPDATED) Fresh off their 11-0 win Wednesday night, the Mets will be in search of a series victory this afternoon when Johan Santana takes on the Cardinals’ Chris Carpenter in a duel of staff aces at Citi Field. The Mets, who have won two of the first three games of this four-game set, will be counting on another bounce-back outing from Santana. The left-hander had posted a 6.50 ERA over his previous six starts before limiting the Rays to just two runs in 7 1/3 innings last Saturday.

Santana has faced the Cardinals just once in his career, allowing just one run on six hits in a complete-game victory.

Santana will square off against Carpenter, who is 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA in nine starts this season. The right-hander spent more than a month on the disabled list earlier this year but has come back strong and allowed just one run in 7 2/3 innings to the Royals in his last outing.

Carpenter is a sinkerball pitcher much like Joel Pineiro, who shut out the Mets on Tuesday night, but Carpenter stands just 1-3 with a 5.09 in four career starts against the Amazin’s.

Here is the 36-34 Mets’ order for the 1:10 p.m. game:

Alex Cora SS

Luis Castillo 2B

David Wright 3B

Ryan Church RF

Fernando Tatis LF

Fernando Martinez CF

Nick Evans 1B

Omir Santos C

Johan Santana LHP (8-5, 3.22)

Santana’s numbers against the Cardinals’ hitters

The 40-33 Cardinals will counter with:

Brendan Ryan SS

Skip Schumaker LF

Albert Pujols 1B

Ryan Ludwick RF

Yadier Molina C

Rick Ankiel CF

Khalil Greene 3B

Chris Carpenter RHP (5-1, 1.53)

Joe Thurston 2B

Carpenter’s numbers against the Mets’ hitters