Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom look on from the dugout during an MLB game against the Cubs at Citi Field on Monday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

The Mets pitching staff that started the season in complete flux is finally edging toward fully whole, and just in time for the stretch run.

Tylor Megill was scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Syracuse Tuesday night in what could be his final rehab appearance as he makes his return from the shoulder strain that’s sidelined him since mid-June. Additionally, Max Scherzer (left-side fatigue) will pitch Wednesday and could potentially return to the rotation as soon as he’s eligible on Sept. 19, Buck Showalter said.

That means that, for the first time this year, the Mets should have their full rotation of Jacob deGrom, Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker, along with the two reserves that kept them afloat in Megill and David Peterson. Megill, Showalter said, will join the Mets bullpen as soon as he’s ready. The Mets still don’t know if Scherzer will pitch a simulated game in Flushing or make the trip to Syracuse.

Megill was 4-2 with a 5.01 ERA before getting hurt.

“We think, knock on wood, we’re in a pretty good place,” Showalter said. “If we get Max through this and Jake continues to be healthy and Tylor back…and Carlos back, no pun intended. And though thick and thin, Bassitt has been there, so hopefully, it’ll bode well.”

The upside to the revolving door of injuries is that all the Mets starters, save for Bassitt, should be fresh for the playoffs. Bassitt leads the team with 165 innings pitched, while Carrasco comes in at a distant second with 135.

Showalter, though, will have to deal with the (good) challenge of managing a bullpen with both Megill and Peterson, who’s pitched well and is a possibility to start against the Cubs Wednesday. There’s also an exploration factor to it: seeing how Megill adapts to a new role after only having started in his major-league career. Prior to his five rehab starts this year, Megill hadn’t pitched in relief since his stint in High-A ball in 2019.

It'll be a balancing act, Showalter said.

“With guys like Pete [Peterson] and Megill and all those guys, it’s going to be a challenge to wade through that – try to win a game, No. 1, which is the most important thing, and also try to accomplish some of those things” in terms of seeing how they perform in certain roles, Showalter said. “The game doesn’t always cooperate where a perfect situation presents itself.”

And though they have Atlanta hot on their heels, Showalter added that the extra wrinkle means that even losses can be used to the Mets advantage – mostly as reconnaissance on their own staff.

“You may be losing the game and it doesn’t look good, but the team can accomplish something if you’re on top of it,” he said. “You get closer to understanding what your strengths and weaknesses will be in three to four weeks.”

Showalter indicated that Starling Marte is still a ways off from returning. “It’s going to be slow,” he said. “I’ll say it one more time – he has a broken finger. You can’t put it in some hydraulic chamber and just make the bone grow together. It’s going to heal, and it’s going to heal before the season is over.”

Laura Albanese is a general assignment sports reporter; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.

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