Oliver Perez’s woes are opening the door for reliever Ken Takahashi.  We told you last week about Takahashi’s long journey to the majors.  Well, now it looks like the left hander may be on the fast track to becoming a starting pitcher.

“He’s not [stretched out], but you know me, I could throw him out there,” Mets skipper Jerry Manuel told the NY Post of Takahashi’s potential switch. “I was impressed with Takahashi. That was a find for us.”

Facing a potent Philadelphia Phillies lineup in his first MLB action, Takahashi lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit.  

According to published reports, Takahashi – a former starter in the Japanese leagues – could enter the rotation as early as this Friday versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Manuel did say that a low pitch count would be in effect in that event.