MET NOTES

The injury news was doubly depressing at Shea Stadium yesterday.

Mike Cameron’s revelation that he has a torn ligament in his right hand was followed by indications that Al Leiter will be bumped from his start Saturday, and possibly land on the DL, due to a tender shoulder.

If there’s any silver lining, it’s that neither player is contemplating surgery for the time being. But that doesn’t mean things are OK.

Cameron has been playing with a bum hand since he slid into home on May 5 against San Francisco. He saw hand specialist Martin Posner yesterday and was diagnosed with a collateral ligament strain in his right pinkie. He’s listed as day-to-day and has been instructed to follow up with treatment.

Leiter last pitched May 11. He was bumped from his last start due to shoulder tendinitis and is progressing slowly. He said his side session yesterday was OK and that he could pitch Saturday if there was a playoff race scenario, but there isn’t.

“I have to feel better than I do right now,” he said .

* Ty Wigginton started at second because Art Howe mentioned something about keeping his roster versatile and getting some offense in the lineup. Wigginton snapped a 0-for-19 streak with a fifth-inning double. Danny Garcia and Howe spoke yesterday and Garcia was told it’s nothing personal.

Todd Zeile played third but left the game after seventh inning. He was spiked in the right ear by second baseman Tony Womack’s cleat, and he walked off the field with a towel to his head. Zeile was attempting to break up a double play. He was taken to the trainer’s room for stitches . . . Former Met Roger Cedeno pinch-hit in the ninth and was roundly booed. He flew out.