Ryota Igarashi yesterday threw off a mound for the first time since straining his hamstring and landing on the disabled list.

“He looks to be on his way to getting back here soon,” Jerry Manuel said before yesterday’s loss to the Nationals.

When Igarashi returns it gives the Mets option of moving Hisanori Takahashi to the rotation in place of struggling Oliver Perez.

Igarashi was the Mets’ setup man before the April 20 injury and had a 1.35 ERA in seven appearances.