Expos 4 – Mets 2

PORT ST. LUCIE – Steve Phillips says he never bets against John Franco. Bobby Valentine says he hasn’t ever considered Franco for his Opening Day roster.

Yesterday, the Mets’ eighth-inning specialist threw his first batting practice session since a setback following offseason elbow surgery. He didn’t feel perfect. There is no concrete date for when he’ll throw in his first exhibition game.

And yet, there still hasn’t been a definitive word that Franco will be placed on the disabled list by Opening Day. There’s been no indication that Franco being ready by April 1 is out of the question.

“I never thought it was in question,” Valentine said after the Mets’ 4-2 loss to Montreal. “I never had him on the Opening Day roster.

“So nothing’s changed as far as that’s concerned.”

Asked point blank if there’s any chance Franco will be ready, Valentine replied, “I guess there’s always a chance, but it doesn’t look like it.”

Franco’s apparent unavailability for Opening Day has sent a ripple effect that may cause the Mets to turn Bruce Chen from a fifth starter candidate into a situational reliever.

Valentine indicated that Chen will throw back-to-back days in order to get acclimated to a relief role. When asked about such a shift to short relief early yesterday morning, Chen was unaware and sounded surprised.

“I went five innings last time out,” he said, comfortable with his current role.

Franco threw nine minutes of batting practice to Tony Tarasco and Jay Payton and said it went OK. He said he tossed 27 pitches, which were fastballs and change-ups.

Payton said, “He looked good. He had that nice sink on his ball.”

Franco is 41 years old. He has now thrown two batting practice sessions. The left-hander has yet to pitch in a simulated game. There are 11 exhibition games remaining.

“He was free, he threw all his pitches the way he’d like to deliver them,” Valentine said. “He still felt a little something in his elbow. He’s resigned to the fact he’s going to need a little more time.”

The Mets have a day off today, and Franco will see how the arm feels tomorrow. He’ll probably throw another BP session or a simulated game Friday.

Every reliever who will make the team has thrown at least six innings and made at least three appearances by now. Still, Phillips refuses to say Franco won’t be available on April 1.

“I never bet against John Franco. We’ll see how it unfolds,” Phillips said.

After throwing BP, Franco was asked if he felt ready for a game.

“Probably not,” he said.

Did he feel the same sensation in the elbow?

“No. (But) I’m not 100 percent.”

Was he willing to say he’d be ready for Opening Day?

“That’s not for me to say,” he said.

Does he have an opinion on the subject?

“No, I don’t.”

Southpaw Mark Guthrie, who’s probably best suited to fill in temporarily for Franco, has allowed 13 hits and six earned runs in eight innings. Chen is the Mets’ other lefty possibility. Righties Kane Davis, David Weathers and Grant Roberts could also pick up the slack.

“If Johnny doesn’t start healthy, then we’re going to have to cover his situations with some of the other guys,” Phillips said.