Thor K's 9 in what he hopes is lone rehab start

PHILADELPHIA -- In what he hopes will be his lone Minor League rehab start, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard struck out nine over five innings Tuesday for Class A Brooklyn, allowing three runs as he worked to return from a strained right hamstring.

Before departing Philadelphia for Aberdeen, Md., Syndergaard said he was hopeful he would need only one rehab start. That would put him on track to return to the Mets this Sunday against the Braves, though Mets officials have not confirmed that that’s their plan.

The Mets will be glad to have Syndergaard, who is 5-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 15 starts, back on the big league mound. He exited his last outing on June 15 after feeling a tweak in his hamstring, and he landed on the injured list the following day.

Walker Lockett has made two rotation turns in his place, posting an 11.74 ERA in those games.

From the trainer’s room

Left-hander Justin Wilson began a third attempt at ramping up from a sore left elbow on Tuesday, throwing a bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park. Wilson, who has appeared in just one big league game since first complaining of elbow soreness in mid-April, plans to throw another bullpen session this week before determining his next step -- likely another Minor League rehab assignment.

In his previous two attempts, Wilson was shut down after feeling lingering soreness in his elbow. An MRI administered last week revealed nothing more than inflammation.

Be prepared

The Mets are encouraging fans with tickets to Saturday’s 1969 anniversary celebration to be in their seats at Citi Field by 3 p.m. ET for an on-field ceremony. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m.

Most living members of the 1969 World Series championship club are expected to attend the game.

Up to Allan

The Mets signed fourth-round Draft pick Jake Mangum to a $20,000 bonus, leaving about $2.5 million in pool space available to ink their third-rounder, Matthew Allan. Team officials remain confident that Allan, a standout high school pitcher whom many scouts believed would go off the board in the first round, will forego a commitment to the University of Florida to sign with them.

In total, the Mets have inked 25 of their 40 Draft picks.