If Sunday was truly – finally – Carlos Carrasco’s last rehab start before joining the Mets for the first time in 2021, then Cookie certainly has something to build off.

The veteran righty went three innings for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He gave up just two singles, didn’t allow a run or walk and struck out six, including the first three he faced. His fastball reached 96 MPH and his off-speed pitches were effective.

That performance was a far cry from his last outing for Syracuse, in which he allowed five runs – including three homers – in just 1.2 innings of work as he makes his way back from a torn hamstring suffered in spring training.

Carrasco only threw 38 pitches (32 strikes) in Sunday’s effort and is certainly not completely stretched out, but the Mets reportedly plan to forego a full rehab assignment in favor of plugging him into the currently vacant fifth spot in the rotation.

With the newly-acquired Rich Hill starting for the big-league club on Sunday, the Mets have now used 16 starters on the year, good for most in the league.

If Carrasco returns before next weekend as expected, the Mets will have a full five-man rotation for the first time in weeks as they await the return of Jacob deGrom and, further down the road, Noah Syndergaard.