Flushing, NY (Best E Casino) - New York Mets pitcher John Maine, sidelined since August 25 with a bone spur in his right shoulder, was activated from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday.

The Mets will use the right-hander exclusively out of the bullpen in the last few games of the regular season before deciding whether or not to use the 27- year-old on the playoff roster, if New York makes the postseason.

Doctors indicated Maine can not worsen the injury by throwing, as his velocity is somewhere between 92 and 93 mph.

Maine is 10-8 with a 4.18 earned run average in 25 starts for New York, which, going into Wednesday's action, holds a tenuous one game lead over the Brewers for first place in the NL wild card, while trailing the Phillies by 1 1/2 games in NL East.

Maine was also placed on the DL in early August with a mild strain of his right rotator cuff.