MET NOTES

Pedro Astacio is back in New York and threw a pain-free bullpen session yesterday. But when he’ll take the mound for his first start of the season is still unknown.

Astacio made his final rehab start with St. Lucie on Friday, and with David Cone starting tomorrow’s series opener against Houston, it seemed likely that Astacio would get the nod for Wednesday. But Art Howe said Al Leiter would go that night and refused to issue a final verdict on Astacio.

“That announcement won’t be made until we have to make it,” Howe said.

“We have a pretty good idea of what our plans are,” GM Steve Phillips said. “It’ll be Art’s announcement to make.”

Astacio could very well get the start on Thursday, but that would entail pushing back Steve Trachsel at least a day. Whenever he goes, Astacio is ready.

“I feel great,” he said. “I want to be there to pitch and help the team.”

* Vern Ruhle has watched video and sees Armando Benitez’ problem. He just won’t say specifically what he sees.

“He’s got some mechanics to work on,” the pitching coach said. “He’s going to be able to adjust.”

Howe has said that Benitez is flying open, but believes Benitez will be fine. Meanwhile, Mo Vaughn said he’d talk to the closer just to make sure there’s nothing wrong mentally.

“In New York when you’re not throwing what you’re capable of throwing, it can wear on you,” Vaughn said. “I just want to make sure that he’s mentally all right. Physically, he’ll be fine.”

* Howe gave Mike Piazza and Cliff Floyd the game off so that both players could have two days off in a row . . . Gerald Williams’ ninth-inning bunt single was his first hit since 2001. It snapped an 0-for-32 skid that included an 0-for-17 stint with the Yankees last year and an 0-for-15 start to this year.

* Mike Stanton (strained right calf) pitched the ninth inning and said, “I felt good. The knee was a non-issue.”