ATLANTA – It appears Pat Mahomes’ playoff spot is still relatively safe, even though his pitching hasn’t been playoff-worthy of late.

“My mindset is I got to try to get guys out,” Mahomes said. “The last couple of times I’ve thrown the ball pretty well except for the home run I gave up to Jordan.”

That was to Brian Jordan on Monday during Mahomes’ one-inning of work. Then on Tuesday, Mahomes didn’t exactly appear ready to work.

After Glendon Rusch left with two outs in the second, Mahomes entered with two runners on. He walked two guys to force in a run and then gave up a two-run single to Javy Lopez.

Mahomes didn’t back up the plate on the hit, instead, cutting off the ball between the mound and home.

“I knew he was safe,” Mahomes said.

Mahomes – who entered last night at 4-3 with a 5.83 ERA – appears to be safe for now, because the other alternative is the inexperienced Jersey Bobby Jones, who has pitched well of late.

“I pitched pretty well in the playoffs last year,” said Mahomes, who most noticeably excelled in the Game 6 of the NLCS when he threw four shutout innings of relief. “I know there are going to be a lot of strange moves or whatever, but I don’t know anyone else who does what I do better than I do it. I know I’ve struggled a little bit the past month. I don’t think the other months go away. If it happens, it happens. I know I can help this team win.”

Ever the optimist, manager Bobby Valentine said he thought that a positive of the recent Mets poor play is that he hasn’t had to call on either John Franco or Armando Benitez of late. This means they should be fresh at the end of the season and into the playoffs.

Valentine didn’t think there was really anything he or anyone can do, but he said that the September callups don’t appear as excited about being in the big leagues. It wasn’t as much of a criticism of the callups as it was a faction of them knowing they aren’t going to get into a close game and feeling they are not really a part of the team … Derek Bell was in the lineup last night, despite the fact his knee was swollen.