MINNEAPOLIS — The insertion of a sixth starter into the Mets rotation will happen sooner than expected.
Justin Hagenman will arrive from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday as potentially that pitcher — he will be available to start or pitch behind an opener — after Griffin Canning was scratched because of sickness.
The Mets initially planned to insert a sixth starter during their upcoming series against the Cardinals at Citi Field.
Hagenman, a career minor leaguer, is on full rest.
Other possibilities team brass could have considered such as top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell and José Ureña, were on less than full rest.
The sixth starter will allow extra rest for Kodai Senga during this stretch of 13 straight games for the Mets.
The 28-year-old Hagenman (who is already on the 40-man roster) was signed to a major league contract this winter despite never having appeared in the big leagues.
Mendoza said the plan is to give Canning an extra day or two, which would place him into the four-game series against the Cardinals that begins Thursday at Citi Field.
Jose Siri remained on the active roster — leaving the Mets a player short for a third straight day — because of what Mendoza termed “a lot of moving parts” that would involve roster moves.
Siri was diagnosed with a fractured left tibia on Monday, leaving the Mets with an opening for an outfielder.
Mendoza did not have a timeline on Siri’s potential return beyond saying the outfielder, who is on crutches, won’t be placing weight on the leg for at least 10 days.
Beyond that, Siri will need 2-3 weeks before he can start “light” baseball activity.
“He’s going to be down for a while,” Mendoza said.
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