MIAMI — Johan Santana isn’t supposed to have his ailing left elbow checked out by Mets doctors until this afternoon, and team officials say surgery has not been ruled out.

If Santana needs surgery, the procedure most likely would be of the “clean up and clean out” variety, according to a source.

Santana has had elbow discomfort throughout the season, and the pain got severe enough recently that the $137.5 million ace was not throwing between starts.