MET NOTES

KISSIMMEE – So far in camp, the Mets’ best pitcher has been Brian Bannister.

The 25-year-old righty tossed three more scoreless innings yesterday in the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Astros, permitting one hit and striking out three. Bannister has fired five shutout innings this spring, allowing only two hits.

“I like him a lot,” Willie Randolph said. “He’s got good command, has nice poise on the mound and he’s been making some nice pitches this spring. I like what I see.”

Pitching coach Rick Peterson said Bannister, a long-shot for the fifth starter’s spot, owns “four or five major league pitches with way-above-average major league command.”

What hurts Bannister is the favorite for the fifth starter’s spot, Aaron Heilman, continues his strong pitching as well. Heilman went three innings yesterday, giving up one run on two hits while fanning three. Heilman has allowed one run in five innings this spring.

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The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the second inning yesterday but fell in the ninth when Steve Schmoll allowed a game-winning single to Hector Gimenez. The Mets got two hits from Paul Lo Duca and RBIs from Todd Self and Juan Tejeda.

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Tom Glavine, who had his next start bumped to Tuesday (setting him up to potentially pitch on Opening Day instead of Pedro Martinez), said yesterday the change is not a negative for him.

Still, if Opening Day nears and Martinez’s status is unresolved, it might make sense for the Mets to simply start Glavine on Opening Day so he doesn’t get out of rhythm, and also allow Martinez a couple extra days of rest.

Said Glavine, “It’s not all that big a deal for me. I think the bigger issue is [Martinez] making sure he’s 110 percent when he gets on the mound for us, whenever that is, so that going forward, he’s going to be in good shape.”