MET NOTES
Willie Randolph announced his pitching rotation for the road trip beginning tonight in Denver, and right now it doesn’t include Orlando Hernandez.
Steve Trachsel, Dave Williams and Oliver Perez will pitch against Colorado, while Tom Glavine will return Friday in Houston.
El Duque, who played catch for about 30 throws on Sunday and also played long-toss yesterday, is not yet ready to be slotted back into the rotation, Randolph said. Hernandez last worked on Aug. 20 versus Colorado and has been held out to get extra rest.
Randolph nixed pitching him Thursday, which was previously listed TBA.
“He hasn’t really pitched,” Randolph said. “That, to me, would be rushing him.”
Randolph entertained the notion of a six-man September rotation earlier this year, but said the Mets might not have to do that because of injuries.
When Pedro Martinez returns, he’s going to have to work every five days to get fresh. Glavine also likes throwing every five days. Randolph said Martinez would get “at least three” starts before the playoffs.
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Mike Pelfrey probably will return to the majors after rosters expand to 40 on Friday, and reliever Royce Ring might also, Randolph said. But the manager doesn’t want too many youngsters clogging up the clubhouse in September, when the Mets make their final playoff push. He’ll discuss the matter with GM Omar Minaya in the next few days, but he said both men are on the same page.
“I don’t like a lot of extra bodies around the clubhouse,” Randolph said. “I think it’s distracting.
“We want to really keep a certain edge here. You have to really stay focused like it’s the middle of the season. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
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The Mets extended their errorless streak to a season-high 10 games, their longest streak since a 12-game streak in 1999. … Cliff Floyd begins his minor-league rehab assignment tonight for Class A St. Lucie.

