PHOENIX -- Although Robinson Canó was eligible to be activated from the injured list on Sunday, the Mets opted to give the veteran second baseman a little extra time before bringing him back from his left quad strain.

“We still feel like he needs a couple days,” manager Mickey Callaway said ahead of Sunday’s 7-1 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field.

However, Cano’s return to the active roster is imminent. He said he’s hoping to return for Tuesday’s series opener against the Giants at Citi Field.

“It’s sad not being out there because I love to play the game. It doesn’t matter to me how good or bad I’m doing,” Cano said. “I’m looking forward to Tuesday, hopefully.”

Cano went on the IL on May 23, straining his quad while running to first base on a groundout at Washington a day earlier. He accompanied the Mets on this week’s West Coast road swing against the Dodgers and D-backs, with Friday marking his first day taking batting practice and fielding grounders. On Sunday, he ran the bases.

Adeiny Hechavarria continues to fill in at second during Cano’s absence. Hechavarria is batting .262 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 11 games since Cano went on the IL.

Worth noting
• Dominic Smith was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with right thumb soreness. Aaron Altherr filled in, starting in left field and batting eighth, going 0-for-3. It was Altherr’s second start since joining the Mets on May 24.

Smith hurt his thumb on a swing during Saturday’s game, and he said it was swollen when he woke up Sunday morning. He will undergo an MRI on Monday when the team returns to New York.

“It was a weird swing. My bottom hand kind of slipped off the bat and it got caught in between my wrist. When I followed through, I really got my top hand through and I like hyperextended my thumb a little bit,” Smith said. “I felt it after that, but I played with a little pain. It’s part of the game. Nobody’s going to be 100 percent.”

Smith said he doesn’t think it will be an issue moving forward, but he has torn a tendon in his thumb in the past and the club wanted to be precautionary. He said he’s optimistic that after two days off, he’ll be ready to play on Tuesday.

• Left-hander Justin Wilson (left elbow soreness) threw from a mound for the first time during his rehab on Friday. He is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Monday.

“We’ll kind of go from there,” Callaway said.