MLB

Ike hopes better days ahead with Mets

Ike Davis’ future with the Mets is simple, as far as he sees it.

“All I have to worry about is playing better,” Davis said. “If I play better, I’ll obviously have a spot in the lineup.”

If only it was so easy.

For the second straight season, Davis has slumped badly over the first half of the season, only this year he has yet to turn a corner as he did last summer. He was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas, recently promoted, and though he has swung the bat better and his pitch recognition has improved, the first baseman has just two hits in his last 21 at-bats, and is 5-for-26 since returning from the minors.

Throw in an impressive stretch from good friend and fellow first baseman Josh Satin since he was called up June 11, and Davis knows the clock is ticking.

“It all depends on who’s playing well, and who they see is going to be the future guy who is going to play,” said Davis, who yesterday co-hosted a Hurricane Sandy benefit golf tournament at Bethpage Black on Long Island. “It’s really not up to us. All we can control is our performance.”

Based on that stipulation, Satin would be playing every day. He’s hitting .361 since joining the Mets, and has sparked the offense with his ability to get on base (.487 on-base percentage), use all fields and work deep counts. Yet since Davis returned July 5, he has received the bulk of the starts.

Davis said his stint in Las Vegas was time well spent, making adjustments with manager Wally Backman and hitting coach George Greer, who he worked with previously in the minors. In 21 games for the 51s, Davis hit .293 with seven home runs, 13 RBIs and a 1.091 OPS.

“I got closer to where I needed to be,” said Davis, who is hitting .165 in 63 games with the Mets. “Obviously, you have good days and bad days. It gave me a chance to relax and work on some things the right way.”

Though he has yet to drive the ball — Davis hasn’t picked up an extra-base hit since his return — he doesn’t seem as lost as he was before his demotion. He’s swinging at more strikes and has drawn six walks.

“I feel good,” he said. “I’ve been walking, hitting some balls hard that just aren’t finding holes. I feel better at the plate, which is a big thing.

“I just want to play better and prove that I am a decent big leaguer, I am a good big leaguer. I feel pressure because I want to play better. I really don’t worry what they’re going to do, where they are, because I have no control in that. … I want to play better just because obviously I don’t like doing bad and it doesn’t help the team when I do bad. It’s more self driven to play better and help the team.”

The past four days have been a peek into the Mets’ bright future, with touted pitching prospects Rafael Montero and Noah Syndergaard each impressing at the Futures Game and ace Matt Harvey tossing two shutout innings in the All-Star Game.

“It’s exciting,” Davis said. “Hopefully, I’m still here.”

That may be riding on the second half of the season.

zbraziller@nypost.com