Kodai Senga could return to much improved Mets rotation

Kodai Senga will be eligible to come off the IL on Sept.25 and the Mets still have decisions to make regarding the right-hander, who has been out since suffering a strained calf on July 26 in his lone start of the season in the majors.Senga threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Citi Field and went through fielding drills as the team holds out hope he might be able to provide something in a potential playoff series.In the meantime, the rotation continues to excel, with Tylor Megill the latest example.Megill gave up just an unearned run in six innings in a 10-1 win and has a 1.69 ERA in four starts since returning from Triple-A Syracuse, making the loss of Senga and the sidelined Paul Blackburn easier to take.It was also the rotation’s sixth straight start of at least six innings.“They’ve been huge,” Carlos Mendoza said of the rotation before the game.

“It’s part of the reason we’re here: starting pitching.It’s been hard for us to score runs and we’ve been winning some close games.

It’s a good feeling when you know what you’re going to get out of the starters every night.”They’re still hoping to get Senga back before the playoffs.“As long as he feels good and continues to progress, hopefully that’s the plan,’’ the manager said.“Hopefully we have those conversations pretty soon.”Francisco Lindor was out with back soreness again Tuesday, and it’s unknown when he might return.Mendoza said the shortstop was “doing better,” but didn’t provide specifics.

When Lindor went down, Mendoza said he had to be careful about not overworking the 34-year-old Jose Iglesias, who started at second base and had three hits Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.“He’s managing well,” Mendoza said.“He has extra time in the training room and is cutting down a little work pregame.

We’ll continue to monitor it.”Mendoza has talked to Mark Vientos about not getting frustrated during his ill-timed slump.He is hitless in his last...