The Mets look to right the ship tonight against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Pedro Martinez makes his return, and will face RHP Brandon Backe. Gametime is slated for 8:05 EST and can be seen on SNY.

Keys to the Game:

• We Need A Healthy Pedro: Pedro is key to the Mets success in the final two months of the year. In order to be able to keep up with the Marlins and Phillies, Martinez will need to give us quality starts down the stretch
• It’s Tatis Time: LF Fernando Tatis batted .397 in July, highest of any major leaguer in the game. With the Mets unable to find a left fielder at the non waiver trade deadline, it looks like the Mets have enough trust in Tatis to get the job done. I believe that he will continue to give the team the lift it needs into the postseason.

For a lineup, head to John Delcos’s blog for the Journal News.

As always, to chat during the game head to The Hot Foot Bleachers.

Over at his blog for the New York Daily News, Adam Rubin has updates on both Orlando Hernandez and John Maine.

Of Hernandez, he says that Duque will not be seen at Shea anytime soon

I’d say we won’t see El Duque ever again. I believe Dan Lerner recently reported that he had been seen with Moises Alou, never good if you want to stay healthy.

Of Maine, he writes that John will be skipped through the order, and will make his next start next Friday against the Marlins.

Nice to see Johnny getting better.

Finally, Manager Jerry Manuel isn’t counting out LHP Jon Niese for a spot start August 11th against the Pirates.

Thanks to Peter Wade for the link.

The Yankees have signed former Met Victor Zambrano to a minor league deal. He was 0-6 with a 9.45 with the Colorado Rockies affiliate earlier this year.

Ha, enjoy Yanks.

Si.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Dodgers are offering OF Andre Ethier in a deal for OF Manny Ramirez. Heyman is reporting that he has approved a trade to any team, showing everyone how badly he wants out of Boston. Heyman doesn’t think a deal will be able to come to fruition if the Dodgers do not offer blue chipper Matt Kemp.

Added by Peter Wade

Update 4:05 p.m. - ESPN and FoxSports.com are reporting that the 3 way deal involving Manny Ramirez might be back on. Rosenthal writes:

The three-way Manny Ramirez blockbuster may be back on…the Ramirez trade was “dead,” according to an executive with one of the three teams involved in the discussions…However, the deal has taken numerous twists and turns over the past 24 hours, and the teams kept trying to piece together the blockbuster.

Update 4:15 p.m. Rosenthal is now reporting the deal is dead again:

The three-way Manny Ramirez blockbuster remains dead, according to two sources with clubs involved in the negotiations.

With the Jason Bay to Red Sox talks on the backburner, ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting that the Tampa Rays have emerged as the favorite for the slugging OF. The two teams have been in talks centering around RHP Jeff Niemann.  Stark and fellow colleague Keith Law believe that the Pirates will hold out for Wade Davis, Reid Brignac, or Jeremy Hellickson.

Appearing on ESPNews, Tim Kurkjian and Steve Phillips are reporting that the Mets have recently inquired about struggling Pirates pitcher Ian Snell. Although Snell has not fared well this year, Kurkjian believes the Pirates asking price will still be 2 highly touted prospects (Martinez and Niese).

I like Snell, but not that much..

The three way deal that would send Manny Ramirez to the Marlins, Jeremy Hermida to the Pirates and Jason Bay to the Red Sox is on life support, says ESPN’s Peter Gammons. The Marlins realize how desperate the Red Sox are to deal Ramirez, and keep increasing their asking price.

Update 1:13PM ET

FOXsports Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the deal is still very much “on” and SI.com’s Jon Heyman says that if a deal could be completed, Ramirez would waive his no trade clause for a trade to the Marlins

Hmm, who to believe.

Update 1:32

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the Pirates have agreed to the prospects they would receive in the three way Manny deal after all.

Wow. That’s the hot stove for you.

Peter Wade now reporting that ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting the deal is dead.

Round and round the hot stove goes.

After visiting with Dr. James Andrews, Tim Hudson received the news that he has severe ligament damage in his right elbow, and will most likely have to undergo Tommy John Surgery. Hudson will try to rehabilitate the elbow for a few weeks before making his final decision.

Hudson is just delaying the inevitable. That is a big blow to the Braves for not only the rest of this year, but much of 2009.

Si.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Diamondbacks have offered 1B/3B Chad Tracy to the Reds in exchange for OF Adam Dunn. No word on whether the Reds are entertaining the offer.

Update 1:10 AM

Jayson Stark is reporting that The Tampa Bay Rays are now involved in talks for the slugging OF, after seeing that Jason Bay will probably be moved elsewhere.