NLCS NOTES

Cliff Floyd’s second at-bat of the NLCS might not come for a while.

Floyd was injured during his opening at-bat in the second inning of the Mets’ 2-0 victory in Game 1 last night and was taken out of the game after he finished his turn at the plate.

The left fielder appeared to hurt himself after hitting a foul ball, as trainer Ray Ramirez and Willie Randolph came out to him. Floyd finished the at-bat, though, flying out to left.

Floyd, who had a strained left Achilles’, was replaced in left field by Endy Chavez before the top of the third inning. The Mets announced Floyd’s Achilles’ was “irritated.”

This is a pretty bad sign for the Mets, as Floyd was a question mark to even be on the NLCS roster. He still seemed to be a smart carry for the Mets, as he could be a pinch hitter if he can’t play left field. But Chavez might have to be the starter now.

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With an 0-for-3 performance last night, Jose Valentin is 0-for-12 in the postseason for the Mets.

The second baseman did reach base in each of his three NLDS games, getting on with a hit-by-pitch in Game 1, a walk in Game 2 and a walk in Game 3. But Valentin went hitless in the series against the Dodgers.

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Game 2 of the NLCS is going to be tonight at 8:05, but Randolph wasn’t griping about it.

The Mets could have had an afternoon reschedule instead, but according to MLB spokesman Pat Courtney, “the main [factor] was the weather situation [today] in Detroit,” adding there is a chance of snow and rain in the Motor City.

Game 3 of the NLCS is tomorrow night at 8:05.

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GM Omar Minaya said yesterday the Rangers had not asked for permission to speak to third base coach Manny Acta for their managerial vacancy, but that Texas was expected to. . . . Before the game, there was a moment of silence for Buck O’Neil and Cory Lidle. . . . Darryl Strawberry, wearing a No. 18 jersey, threw out the first pitch. Jon Stewart is slated to do the honors tonight.

Additional reporting by Joel Sherman