Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea’s Mets returns could come with Clay Holmes twist

BALTIMORE — The Mets are looking toward a big weekend of starting pitching comebacks.

Kodai Senga is expected to return from the injured list on Friday to face the Royals, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, with Sean Manaea two days behind him.

Manaea was scheduled to pitch in a final minor league rehab game on Tuesday for Triple-A Syracuse, putting him in line for Sunday in Kansas City.

The Mets are planning a piggyback effort on Sunday that would allow Clay Holmes and Manaea to pitch. Otherwise, Holmes — who started Tuesday night against the Orioles — would be facing a potential two-week layoff between appearances with the All-Star break approaching and the Mets potentially realigning the pitching order to start the second half.

Holmes is likely to start Sunday, with Manaea behind him, but Mendoza said a final decision hasn’t been reached on the order.

Senga is returning from a strained right hamstring that has sidelined him since June 13. The lefty Manaea hasn’t pitched for the Mets this season due to an oblique strain and loose body in his left elbow that delayed his rehab.

Tylor Megill was transferred to the 60-day injured list, meaning his return to the Mets won’t occur before mid-to-late August. Mendoza said the timeline is consistent with what the Mets expected when Megill hit the IL last month with elbow inflammation.

The Mets selected reliever Alex Carrillo from Triple-A Syracuse, as righty Zach Pop was designated for assignment. Carrillo, 28, is intriguing to the Mets because of his 100 mph fastball and low arm-slot delivery. He signed with the Mets last winter following a strong showing in Venezuela.

“I remember getting a call from someone I know from Venezuela in winter ball telling me about this guy,” Mendoza said. “I got on the phone with [team brass] and we got him in the organization.”

Carrillo pitched to a 3.24 ERA in 19 appearances for Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse with 40 strikeouts in 25 innings. He spent the previous four seasons in the independent leagues.

“He threw the other night, I was like, ‘Where did this guy come from?’ ” said reliever Brooks Raley, who is rehabbing with Syracuse. “He was in [independent] ball? He got released by a Mexican team?’ I am super pumped for him.”

— Additional reporting by Mark W. Sanchez