Johan Santana will not start Thursday.

The Mets haven't decided whether the left-hander is going to be shut down for the remainder of the 2012 season, but he'll get at least one week off. Santana has registered a hideous 8.27 ERA since throwing a no-hitter against the Cardinals on June 1. He was given an MRI on his ailing back Tuesday afternoon.

Johan Santana will undergo an MRI on his back Tuesday.

Santana is currently penciled in to start Thursday against the Rockies, but there's a chance he could be scratched (or shut down completely) depending upon the results of the MRI. The veteran southpaw has allowed at least six runs in five straight starts and now holds a 4.85 ERA on the year.

Mets manager Terry Collins confirmed that Johan Santana will pitch Thursday against the Rockies, but that he will be limited to less than 100 pitches.

Santana was knocked around for six runs over five innings Friday night against the Nationals, which resulted in a conversation about whether he should shut things down for the season. He'll remain in the rotation for now, but Collins indicated that he will be re-evaluated on a start-to-start basis. Fantasy owners would do well to look elsewhere.

Johan Santana is still scheduled to start Thursday.

The Mets are considering shutting the left-hander down for the rest of the season, but he threw his normal between-starts bullpen session on Monday and is gearing up to the take the mound Thursday afternoon against the Rockies. Santana has a brutal 8.27 ERA since his no-hitter in early June.

The Mets will decide Monday what to do with the struggling Johan Santana, and shutting him down for the season is among the options they'll consider.

The Mets are already going with a six-man rotation, and a big reason they're doing so is to give Santana extra rest. But, they might ultimately decide that they're better off shutting the left-hander down altogether. Santana has put up an 8.27 ERA since his no-hitter and has allowed at least six runs in each of his last five starts. "(General manager) Sandy (Alderson) and I will discuss the options," manager Terry Collins said. "Look at the pros and the cons of what it's all about. There's some things we have to concern ourselves with to make sure next year he's healthy."

Johan Santana was pounded for the fifth consecutive start, allowing six runs on seven hits over five innings in Friday's loss to the Nationals.

Santana struck out four and didn't issue a walk in the game. He retired the first nine hitters in order, before everything fell apart in the fourth inning. After the first three hitters reached with singles, Mike Morse unloaded the bases with a monstrous grand slam. Bryce Harper then added a two-run bomb in the fifth to complete the damage. Santana earns the unfortunate distinction of being the first pitcher in Mets history to allow six or more earned runs in five consecutive starts. He clearly doesn't look right at this point, and the Mets may decide to sit him down for awhile before making his next scheduled start. As of now, he's lined up to take on these same Nationals in Washington on Saturday, and should be avoided in all formats.

Mets manager Terry Collins is considering using a six-man rotation in order to give Johan Santana and Chris Young extra rest down the stretch.

Collins has also scrapped the idea of using R.A. Dickey on short rest. "We're trying to figure out if that's going to help those guys out," Collins said of Santana and Young. "When are we going to do it? I don't know." The plan isn't set in stone, as the Mets are worried about throwing off the rhythms of Dickey and Jon Niese. If they do go to a six-man rotation, Jeremy Hefner will be added to the mix.

Mets manager Terry Collins expects Johan Santana to start on Friday against the Nationals.

Collins believes Santana's struggles on Saturday were due to rust and not a re-aggravation of an ankle ailment. Santana was pounded by the Braves in his return to the Mets' rotation, surrendering eight runs on eight hits in just 1 1/3 innings. Santana is 3-6 with a 7.98 ERA over 44 innings (nine starts) since hurling his no-hitter on June 1. Mixed leaguers should bench Santana until he proves he can turn his season around.

Johan Santana was pounded by the Braves in his return to the Mets' rotation on Saturday, surrendering eight runs on eight hits in just 1 1/3 innings.

Freddie Freeman delivered a two-out, two-run double to get the Braves on the board in the first inning. Atlanta then added seven more in the second to chase Santana from the game, highlighted by a three-run blast by Freeman after Santana had been removed. The Mets may think twice before throwing him against the Nationals in Washington on Friday, as he clearly didn't look at full strength in this one.

Mets activated LHP Johan Santana from the 15-day disabled list.

Santana will jump back into the Mets rotation on Saturday against the Braves, with a strict limit of 90 pitches. He returns to a 3.98 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 105/38 K/BB ratio.

Johan Santana (ankle) will be capped at 90 pitches in his return to the rotation Saturday against the Braves.

Santana was limited to 38 pitches in his last rehab start, so the Mets will smartly limit his pitch count. It's possible he could be spaced out down the stretch to avoid fatigue, as manager Terry Collins wants to make sure he goes into the offseason without any setbacks.

Johan Santana (ankle) will not be on a pitch count in his return to the rotation Saturday against the Braves.

Santana was struggling before going on the DL with an ankle injury, but Mets manager Terry Collins thinks he'll be much improved Saturday and going forward. "I'm very, very confident that Saturday night we're going to see a good outing out of Johan, because he's feeling so much better about the way his arm feels, the way his leg feels and the energy he's gotten back," Collins said. "But we can be very cautious with him during the month of September to make sure he goes into the offseason feeling good." Santana could receive extra days off down the stretch.

Johan Santana (ankle) is scheduled to return to the Mets' rotation next Saturday against the Braves.

Matt Harvey will pitch Friday in the series opener, and Santana will take Jeremy Hefner's place in the rotation Saturday. The left-hander has been sidelined since July 20 due to a sprained ankle and shoulder fatigue, and the Mets have been in a free-fall ever since.

Johan Santana (ankle) is not listed among the Mets' probables for next week's series against the Marlins.

The Mets had hoped he would be ready to pitch one of the game, but it sounds like he won't be ready yet. Barring a setback, he should make it back in mid-August. Santana resumed throwing from a mound Thursday.

Johan Santana (ankle) is expected to throw off a mound Thursday.

It will be the first time he's hurled off the bump since hitting the disabled list. Santana hit the shelf earlier this month with a sprained ankle. Barring any setbacks, the hope is he'll be ready to return by August 8 or 9 against the Marlins.

Mets placed LHP Johan Santana on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle.

Santana will miss a minimum of two starts, meaning Matt Harvey could be promoted if an extended absence is required. Jeremy Hefner is tentatively scheduled to replace Santana in the starting rotation Wednesday against the Nationals, though the Mets have yet to make an official announcement. The ankle injury reportedly forced Santana to rely more on his arm for delivery, so he's also dealing with minor shoulder fatigue.

One bad inning doomed Johan Santana in Sunday's loss to the Braves, as they pounded out five hits and walk to score six times in the fifth inning.

Santana finished the day allowing those six runs on eight hits in his five innings of work, while walking two and striking out three. Freddie Freeman's two-out, three-run homer capped off the damage and was the biggest blow in the game. The loss drops Santana to 6-6 on the season, who will look to get back on track when he takes on the Dodgers at home on Friday.

Johan Santana's (ankle) next scheduled outing will be pushed back a couple days.

Santana's ankle injury really is no big deal, but the Mets will use the All-Star break to re-order the rotation and give him a couple extra days of rest. His first turn of the second half could come as soon as Sunday in Atlanta.

Johan Santana was diagnosed with a twisted right ankle Friday but isn't concerned the injury will cause him to miss any time.

Santana reported soreness after the game, but doesn't expect it to affect his next start. "I still feel it a little bit, but I don't think it'll be a big deal," he said. "I'll be fine."

Johan Santana absolutely dominated the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing just three hits in eight scoreless innings.

Santana notched three strikeouts in the electrifying performance. Shockingly, it was only the second time all season that he failed to tally five or more strikeouts in a game. He took a one-hitter into the eighth inning before tiring and surrendering a pair of singles. Santana is enjoying quite the career resurgence, going 6-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 93/33 K/BB ratio through his first 98 innings this season. He'll get the Cubs next, and should keep rolling.