ST. LOUIS – Willie Randolph officially declared his rotation for the Mets’ next two series, and all of it is as expected.

Randolph said Jose Lima will pitch in tomorrow afternoon’s series finale against the Cardinals, which will mark his third start as a Met. Jeremi Gonzalez will make his second Met start Friday against the Yankees, with Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine pitching on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Martinez, who pitched in Milwaukee on Sunday, will be going on five days’ rest.

“Any time you can give Pedro an extra day, you do that,” Randolph said.

As for Brian Bannister, who is on the DL with a strained right hamstring, Randolph said the rookie righty will likely do a bullpen session tomorrow and will then have a Triple-A rehab start.

“I’m not exactly sure when that’s going to be, but before he gets back up we’re going to see and make sure he’s 100 percent physically fine,” Randolph said. “So he’ll pitch a rehab start in Norfolk, and after that we’ll see where he is and see where everybody else is and go from there.”

Randolph said he figured Bannister would not require multiple rehab starts. Assuming that carries through, Bannister could potentially return from the DL against the Phillies or Marlins next week.

Lima has had two poor starts for the Mets, allowing 10 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings against the Braves and Brewers. Gonzalez pitched decently in his turn this past Saturday in Milwaukee, giving up three runs in five innings. Last year with the Red Sox against the Yankees, Gonzalez gave up two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings over four games.

The Subway Series highlight, however, again will be Martinez against the Yankees. Martinez went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA versus the Yanks in two games last year, one at Shea and one in The Bronx.

Martinez said yesterday that going against the Yanks last season wasn’t different for him than pitching against the Yankees while he was a Red Sox.

“Not to me. I have the same approach for everybody,” he said. “So to me, it’s just one more game. Normal work for me.”

One interesting matchup within the Pedro vs. the Yanks game, though, will be Martinez facing his old Boston teammate, Johnny Damon. The center fielder is in his first year with the Yanks.

“Nothing weird. I’ve faced him before. J.D. is a good dude. He’s doing his job. I’m doing mine. Great teammate. Great person, but that’s about it,” Martinez said.

“For now, it’s work. I’ll give him a big hug when I see him, but after that, it’s all business. But I root for him unless it’s going against us. If it’s going against us, then we’re against him.”

Damon is a career 4-for-19 off Martinez with no extra base hits. Martinez is 11-10 with a 3.13 ERA lifetime against the Yankees in 30 games. He’s pitched against them more than he’s pitched against any other opponent.

Martinez also discussed the Mets’ recent attention in New York over the last year and a half. “You have to give the Yankees credit,” he said. “They’re the No. 1 team in probably baseball, but popularity is with us, it’s [gone] up a little bit.”

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Yankees at Mets pitching matchups (m)

FRIDAY: 7 p.m.: Randy Johnson vs. Jeremi Gonzalez

SATURDAY: 1 p.m.: Mike Mussina vs. Pedro Martinez

SUNDAY: 8 p.m.: Shawn Chacon vs. Tom Glavine