NEW YORK — A few weeks ago, nobody on the New York Mets could have imagined that Oliver Perez would wind up starting the most important game of the year.

That's exactly what he'll do Thursday night.

The Mets are handing the ball — and their season — to Perez in Game 7 of the NL championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

That's right, Oliver Perez, who was demoted to the minors by lowly Pittsburgh in June.

The erratic lefty who went 3-13 with a 6.55 ERA in the big leagues this year. The guy who couldn't seem to throw a strike earlier this season.

And he'll be pitching on only three days' rest against St. Louis stalwart Jeff Suppan.

"One game," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "He'll have plenty of time to rest after that."

With New York still piecing together an injury-depleted staff, Perez was picked Wednesday over struggling right-hander Steve Trachsel, who left Game 3 with a bruised thigh, and Darren Oliver.

Perez's opponent will be Suppan, who beat Houston's Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS and tossed eight shutout innings of three-hit ball Saturday night against the Mets.

"Jeff is amazing. He's been in this game before," St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols said. "It doesn't matter who we face, we're going to score."

Plus, Suppan is on full rest.

"He's been big for us all year. He's been big in the postseason. He's a professional. He's going to come out and compete," Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter said.

Quite a matchup in a game that will decide who goes to the World Series to face the Detroit Tigers.