Noah’s Mets return is near

ATLANTA — Noah Syndergaard has passed every test, making his return from the disabled list within the next few days seem almost imminent.

According to manager Terry Collins, a decision will be reached Saturday on the next step for Syndergaard, who has spent the past 4 ½ months rehabbing a torn right lat muscle. The right-hander threw a bullpen session on Thursday in Chicago and could be used by the Mets in a limited capacity as soon as this weekend.

“We are going to limit the workload,” Collins said. “But do we benefit ourselves to let him prepare himself like a normal game and even just go out for one or two innings to start the game? Is that a better way to prepare for him to pitch or select an inning to tell him he’s going to pitch [in relief ]?” ➤ Rafael Montero was just following the crowd.

After three straight losses to the Cubs in which Mets starting pitchers failed to complete five innings, Montero turned in his own lackluster performance Friday to extend the team’s streak of abbreviated starts.

Montero wasn’t a disaster, but just bad enough to receive the loss in the Mets’ 3-2 defeat to the Braves at Sun Trust Park.

The right-hander lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It came after Robert Gsellman, Matt Harvey and Seth Lugo were destroyed on successive nights at Wrigley Field.

➤ Amed Rosario and Travis d’Arnaud were both listed as available to play, but were absent from the starting lineup against the Braves. Neither played Friday.