Mets get the Marcus Stroman news they desperately needed

Marcus Stroman wants the ball for his next start, and the Mets will spend the next few days deciding whether he should get it.

A “clean” MRI exam performed on the right-hander’s left hip Wednesday provided enough reassurance for team brass to keep Stroman off the injured list, a day after he departed in the second inning against the Braves in discomfort. Now the goal is getting him back to the mound next week.

“[Stroman] feels optimistic right now, but we still want to take this day-to-day,” manager Luis Rojas said before the Mets faced the Braves at Citi Field. “He is still a little sore today. It’s peace of mind that there is nothing going on there, but it’s something we’re still going day by day and get it treated.”

Stroman, as he departed the field during pregame drills, was asked how he felt.

“Working on it,” Stroman said before disappearing into the tunnel.

The Mets rotation lost a piece in recent days when it was revealed Joey Lucchesi tore his ulnar collateral ligament and will undergo Tommy John surgery. In addition, the team has closely monitored Jacob deGrom, who has battled various ailments over the past six weeks — but survived five innings Monday against the Braves without a problem. The Mets are also without Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco and Jordan Yamamoto, who remain on the IL. Carrasco is thought to be the closest of the group, but the right-hander, who tore his right hamstring in spring training, hasn’t progressed to throwing from a mound.

Stroman has pitched to a 2.32 ERA in 15 starts for the Mets and had joined David Peterson as the team’s most durable starter until this setback.

Initially, Stroman wanted to remain in Tuesday’s game, but the Mets decided to play it cautiously.

“We caught it on time,” Rojas said. “I am glad he stopped and we were able to go out there and he was able to listen to different guys on the mound to come out, because he wanted to pitch through it and that could have aggravated stuff in [the hip] or something else.

“We just have to pay respect to him coming out of the game and the process he is going to go through to get the soreness out of there, because it’s still sore, today is sore. We learn more about it as we go, but we know right now that it’s clean from an imaging standpoint and we can think that it’s not major, but let’s see.”

Thursday’s day off would give the Mets the option of starting Tylor Megill in Stroman’s spot next week if he isn’t ready. Megill made his major league debut on Wednesday.

“[Stroman] is a warrior, he’s got a big heart and he wants to, he thinks he can do everything, even when he is limited,” Rojas said. “But right now I think the smart thing is to get treated today and get some soreness out of there. The day off [Thursday] helps, when it comes down to his time to pitch, next time and that is probably why he is optimistic.”