MET NOTES

PHOENIX – On Tuesday, Al Leiter looked fidgety and uncomfortable on the mound. In short, he looked like there was something wrong.

Maybe there was.

After feeling more soreness in his left shoulder than normal following his start, Leiter flew back to New York to get examined today. The 38-year-old was slated to start Sunday against Roger Clemens in Houston, but don’t count on that happening now.

“It’s not likely,” GM Jim Duquette said.

The real question is how long Leiter may be out. In the spring, he was scratched from one start with mild tendinitis, but he had seemed to have the problem solved when he compiled an MLB-best 1.53 ERA after his first six starts.

On Tuesday, however, Leiter surrendered five runs and five walks in four innings. Duquette said the soreness the 38-year-old lefty feels now is similar to what he felt in the spring.

Who will replace Leiter in the interim? It’s possible Dan Wheeler could get a spot start on Sunday, but keep in mind Norfolk’s Matt Ginter would be on track to start in Triple-A that day. Ginter, acquired in the spring from the White Sox for Timo Perez, has been terrific, posting a 1.56 ERA and a superb 27-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

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As expected, Cliff Floyd’s return cost Ricky Gutierrez his job when the Mets designated their backup infielder for assignment to make room on the roster. As was the case with Grant Roberts, the Mets have seven-to-10 days to trade, release or waive Gutierrez.

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Roberts was slated to get his second opinion from Reds team doctor Tim Kremchek yesterday. An examination by the Mets’ team doctor, Andrew Rokito, revealed Roberts did not have any serious injury, but if Kremchek believes Roberts needs surgery, the pitcher could have the surgery and potentially file a grievance against the Mets for designating him for assignment when he was injured. Roberts did not tell the Mets he wasn’t feeling right until after he was designated.