PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Johan Santana has been scratched from his second straight start by the New York Mets because of a sore left elbow.

After Santana missed a scheduled "B" game appearance Friday against Italy's national team, the Mets said their ace would not take his turn Tuesday against St. Louis. That was to have been his first regular spring training game appearance of the year.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said that because spring training is nearly a week longer this year due to the World Baseball Classic, he decided to be "extra cautious" with his ace.

"There's no hurry with Johan in spring training if he's experiencing any discomfort," Manuel said.