The Mets will likely add a sixth starter soon. Could it be Christian Scott?

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The Mets will likely add a sixth starter soon. Could it be Christian Scott?

NEW YORK — With 39 games over the next 41 days, the New York Mets are contemplating slipping a sixth starter into their rotation sometime over the next month. That could be Tylor Megill when he’s ready to return to the major leagues. It could be Joey Lucchesi, who owns a 2.42 ERA over five starts at Triple-A Syracuse. And it could be tantalizing prospect Christian Scott, who is tied for second in the International League in strikeouts.

In four starts for Syracuse, Scott has 34 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings. In his last start on Tuesday, he allowed a first-inning two-run homer and then retired the next 18 Columbus Clippers.

The long ball has been the only issue for Scott. He’s allowed six of them in those four starts, with seven of the eight runs he’s yielded this season coming on home runs.

Multiple club sources indicated the Mets’ preference when promoting Scott would be to give him more than a start or two. Ideally, he’d receive a run of at least four or five starts to acclimate to the majors.

The right-hander is currently slated to pitch on Sunday for Syracuse.

The Mets could structure their rotation in several ways between now and their trip to London in the first week of June (when they will have two off days before and another after a pair of games against the Phillies). The Mets could go with a regular six-man rotation for the next six weeks, in which that extra starter would get as many as six turns. They could slot that extra starter in more judiciously so he makes fewer starts.

The Mets also hope to welcome Megill and Kodai Senga back as rotation options during that stretch. Senga is slated to throw a live batting practice session on Monday — the first time he’d face hitters in his recovery from the shoulder injury that has sidelined the Mets’ ace since early spring training.

Senga is on the 60-day injured list and ineligible to return until May 27. It’s too early to tell if he’ll be ready by that point.

Megill will make a rehab start on Saturday for High-A Brooklyn. Megill has been out since the first week of the season when he strained his shoulder in his initial start of the year.

The right-hander is scheduled to throw two innings, with the current plan for him to build inning by inning in subsequent appearances.

(Photo of Christian Scott: Gordon Donovan / Associated Press)