(Sports Network) - Orlando Hernandez became the latest Game 1 starter for the New York Mets to go down with what is likely to be a postseason-ending injury as the team prepares for its National League Division Series opener with the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday at Shea Stadium.

With ace right-hander Pedro Martinez already sidelined for the rest of the postseason with calf and shoulder injuries, the Mets' starting staff was thrown into even more disarray on Tuesday when Hernandez was injured while running in the outfield.

Hernandez, who will not be on the Mets' NLDS roster, felt discomfort in his right calf and was subsequently taken to a hospital, where an MRI revealed a Grade 2 proximal gastroc tear of the right calf.

"It's life," said Mets manager Willie Randolph. "It's the way it goes. I've been around the game a long time. Things happen. You know, you have a team of 25 guys who have not really focused too much on who's on the field but (are focused on) rallying around each other and playing the game. So we've had our share of injuries this year. That's not going to affect the total group of guys. We've done a great job this year of picking each other up. We'll continue to do that."

So it will be rookie John Maine who gets the call for New York in the opener. While "El Duque" is one of the best postseason pitchers of all-time, Maine has just 27 major league appearances under his belt, none of which have been of the playoff variety.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who was 6-5 with a 3.64 ERA in 15 starts this year, was exceptional for the Mets down the stretch, as he posted a 6-2 mark to go along with a 3.28 ERA after the All-Star break.

Maine, acquired in the offseason from the Baltimore Orioles in the Kris Benson deal, lost in his only other start to the Dodgers. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings of that one.

Now if this series goes to a fourth game, the Mets will be forced to throw Oliver Perez, who was a combined 3-13 in 22 games with New York and Pittsburgh, while pitching to a 6.55 ERA in those outings.

There is no truth to the rumor that the team inquired to Florida authorities whether or not Doc Gooden would be available to pitch this weekend.

DROUGHT SET TO END FOR CARLOS DELGADO

Congratulations to Jeromy Burnitz. After Tuesday's NLDS opener between the Mets and Dodgers, he will inherit the dubious honor of having the longest active streak of any current major leaguer without playing in a postseason game.

That is because Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, who had held the mantle after playing in 1,711 games for the Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins and New York, will finally get to play in the playoffs. Provided of course, he is not injured on his way to the game. And with the Mets you can never be sure of that.

"It's been a long time for me," said Delgado. "It's a great opportunity. This is where every athlete wants to be, having the opportunity to have a chance to win (the World Series). So it's been a fun summer. We're gonna try to make the best out of it the next few weeks."

LOWE READY TO GO

With so much uncertainty surrounding the Mets Game 1 starter, there were no questions as to who would open LA's postseason. It would be Derek Lowe.

"This is (Lowe's) time of the year - the playoff season is his time of the year," said Los Angeles manager Grady Little. "For us, our playoff season started on August 1st after we played that way coming out of the break. (Lowe) stepped it up. He's been outstanding for us since that point. We don't know where we'd be without him."

Lowe was 16-8 with a 3.63 ERA in 35 starts this season. However, he was 8-1 after July and pitched to a 2.39 ERA in that time.

He is 4-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 17 career playoff games, but went 3-0 in four outings for the Red Sox during their championship season of 2004.

"I believe that to have success in the playoffs, you can't be afraid to fail," Lowe said. "I think that's been my motto my whole career, (to) believe in yourself. "I think if you get a negative mindset and believe that this pitch may be the right pitch to throw but I may get a negative result, that's when the playoffs can snowball in a negative way."

Lowe defeated the Mets the last time he faced them, but is just 1-1 lifetime against them with two saves and a 4.82 ERA in six games, just one of which was a start.

NOMAR READY TO GO, TOO

The Dodgers should have first baseman Nomar Garciaparra in the lineup on Tuesday when they open the NLDS. Garciaparra missed the final two games of the regular season after aggravating an oblique muscle strain on a routine swing in the batting cage on Friday.

"It's not like it happens on a certain pitch or with a certain swing," Garciaparra said. "There's nothing I can do to prevent it. I'll just play the game and see what happens. I just took batting practice, and it actually feels pretty good right now."

Garciaparra is a leading candidate for NL Comeback Player of the Year and will likely get some MVP votes after a tremendously productive first season with the Dodgers that saw him hit .303 with 20 homers and 93 RBI.

"At this stage, I don't think there's any guy out there, be it on our team or any team that goes through a baseball season that isn't playing with some sort of bump or bruise, dealing with some sort of aches and pains, and I'm one of them," added Garciaparra. "You know, when you're at the playoffs, you're excited. This is a fun time. This is a really fun time for baseball."