New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay will be activated from the disabled list for totday’s game against the Houston Astros, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.  The game will be Bay’s 2011 season debut after missing the first 18 games with a strained intercostal muscle.

The Mets are desperate to get assistance from their outfielder.  The team currently has the worst record in Major League Baseball at 5-13 and 6 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.

“I don’t want to put it all on Jason Bay,” manager Terry Collins said. “Obviously he’s a big piece of the puzzle here — that’s why he’s here. He’s a very, very good baseball player. He’s a fine offensive player. He’s a good defender. He runs the bases well. We need him in our lineup. But I don’t want to have to think Jason Bay, when he comes back, he’s the guy. This is a team of 25.”