P SANTANA ‘LESS AND LESS LIKELY’ TO START FOR METS IN OPENER

NY Mets: GM Sandy Alderson says P Johan Santana is becoming “less and less likely” to be ready for the team’s opener against San Diego on April 1. Santana was scheduled to throw batting practice Tuesday, but pitching coach Dan Warthen said Saturday that the session had been canceled. Santana remains on a long-toss program and likely will throw from 150 feet Sunday. Alderson said it will be 10 more days before Santana builds up enough arm strength to pitch in an exhibition game. He said Santana has no structural issues in his shoulder and that an MRI hasn’t taken place or been planned. “We haven’t ruled out opening day, although given when he might get on the mound, it becomes less and less likely,” Alderson said. “But we haven’t given up on that notion yet and we’ll see where that takes us.” The two-time Cy Young Award winner didn’t pitch in the major leagues in 2011 following shoulder surgery, then went 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts last year. St. Louis: SS Rafael Furcal had set Saturday as the date he hoped to play the field for the first time this spring training, but his sore right elbow once again kept him out of the lineup. Manager Mike Matheny said before the game he is not putting a time line on Furcal’s return. Cedeno made two throwing errors from shortstop. » RF Carlos Beltran was scratched from the lineup to give his injured right little toe more time to heal. Beltran was hit by a pitch on the right foot Thursday.