Carlos Carrasco appears to be getting closer and closer to making his return to the Mets' rotation.

Carrasco, who has been dealing with elbow inflammation which required an injection, made his second - and potentially final - rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday afternoon.

The veteran right-hander tossed three innings (33 pitches) and allowed just one run on four hits a week ago against the Yard Goats and fared just as well this time around, allowing no runs on two hits while walking one and striking out four against the same Yard Goats team. He stretched out to four innings and threw 52 pitches (35 strikes).

"It feels good," Carrasco said following the outing. "I found what I'm looking for and just getting to the spot with my delivery so pretty much everything feels great."

He worked quickly and effectively through the first after striking out the first batter he faced. Carrasco allowed a leadoff single in the second but induced a double-play ball on the very next pitch to erase the runner.

He used his curveball, which looked very sharp all afternoon, to generate his second and third strikeouts in the third. Carrasco was happy with the results he saw with what he called his best pitch.

"I just used my best pitch and it did what it does, that's what I've been talking about with the catcher," Carrasco said. "I just wanted to do that and that's what I was looking for. I wanted to go back to that to do that a lot, it's good to have it back."

Carrasco was struck on the lower leg by a comebacker with two outs in the fifth, but recovered to throw the runner out and appeared to be fine.

Buck Showalter said following the Mets' Game 1 loss to the Washington Nationals that Carrasco went down to the bullpen and stretched out to 65 pitches following his outing.

Showalter added that Carrasco will rejoin the team in New York and they'll decide if he'll pitch on regular rest or if he needs an extra day. 

Carrasco has been on the injured list since April 16 and the team has turned to left-hander Joey Lucchesi in his place. While the right-hander has struggled early on this season, getting him back healthy and into the big league rotation could be a nice boost for the Mets who are hoping now that his elbow issues are out of the way that he will be able to shape back into form.

"Whatever it takes to give the team the best opportunity to win, that's what I'm most looking forward to," Carrasco said.