PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets will get their first live look at fifth-starter hopefuls Livan Hernandez (pictured) and Freddy Garcia when they take on the Cardinals here today in Grapefruit League action. Hernandez will start and probably throw two innings, then Garcia will follow him with the same amount. Both veteran pitchers are in camp on minor-league invites. You’ll note that Jerry Manuel also has the pitcher hitting in the No. 2 spot again as part of an effort to get the starter a plate appearance to bunt.

Here is the Mets’ lineup for the 1:10 p.m. game, which is being telecast live by SNY:

Luis Castillo 2B

Livan Hernandez RHP

Jose Reyes SS

Carlos Delgado 1B

David Wright 3B

Carlos Beltran CF

Ryan Church RF

Marlon Anderson LF

Rene Rivera C

Also scheduled to pitch for the Mets are RHP Brandon Knight, LHP Casey Fossum, RHP Connor Robertson, LHP Tom Martin, RHP Rocky Cherry, LHP Adam Bostick and RHP Darren O’Day.

4:30 P.M. UPDATE: The Mets got off to a fast start but watched their pitching fall apart in a 9-8 loss. They rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth but left the winning run on base. The Mets led 3-0 after two innings before Freddy Garcia was put in and came unglued, giving up four runs (two earned) in just two-thirds of an inning. Brandon Knight also was rocked, yielding three runs and four hits in the eighth. The Mets fell to 2-1 in Grapefruit League play but have scored at least eight runs in all three games.