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Perez's Future With Mets Reportedly Hinges On Start

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- It's all up to Oliver Perez.

According to the NY Daily News, Mets fans may finally get their chance to wave goodbye to Perez if the lefty doesn't "show significant improvement" against the Cardinals on Thursday.

"Two major league sources familiar with the Mets' thinking believe that the team is close to giving up on the lefthander," wrote the paper.

Perez's first start was shaky at best. The Braves knocked around the lefty for four runs in two innings. He also walked three.

Mets manager Terry Collins wasn't concerned afterward, saying, "We told him he would get a chance. I don't necessarily know if one outing is a chance." He reiterated that point Thursday.

"I'm quite sure he'll have another try after (Thursday)," Collins said.

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Perez is competing for the fifth starting spot in New York's rotation with Chris Capuano, fully recovered from his second Tommy John surgery, Dillon Gee, Jenrry Mejia and D.J. Carrasco.

"In the past week I've been working too hard and I think everybody is kind of tired a little bit because it was very sunny, but that's why it's spring training," said the erratic lefty. "You try to get ready and try to be confident in all your pitches for the season."

Perez attributed his not-so-Amazin' outing to being "excited and nervous at the same time."

"This wasn't the one I wanted, but you just have to take it easy and try to get ready for the next game," he said.

Will Oliver Perez's tenure as a Met end today? Let us know in the comments below...

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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