During the Mets’ latest regime, under general manager Billy Eppler and manager Buck Showalter, the organization has been liberal in its usage of the injured list, perhaps more so this season than last due to the number of players signed who don’t have minor league options remaining.

The timing on some of these “injuries” has been uncanny.

Last week, the Mets needed a starting pitcher to fill in for Max Scherzer (neck spasms) in Cincinnati, and the only way they could bring back David Peterson within the 15-day window after he had been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse was if another player was placed on the IL.

Presto, reliever Jimmy Yacabonis was said to have a left quadriceps strain and placed on the IL. Yacabonis, by the way, is also out of options. But — wink, wink — his leg was barking enough for an IL stint.

“If you took every guy in there, whether it’s Max or Jimmy or whoever it might be, if I told you every little thing they were dealing with everyday, pitching’s not a normal thing to do to your body,” Showalter said. “I could find a reason to IL just about anybody in there if you want to go really deep into it, including the coaches.”

There might not be a more obvious case of IL manipulation by the Mets than Tim Locastro’s back spasms that arose when the team needed a roster spot for Brett Baty on April 17.

Locastro is out of options, so he would have had to pass through waivers to stay with the Mets if they removed him from the 26-man roster.

A month later, Locastro is still on the IL. He is now on a rehab assignment with Syracuse, but time will soon expire on that rehab stint and the Mets will have to decide on his fate — unless he sustains a setback, which would allow his clock to reset.

It could get interesting with the Mets’ suddenly crowded catching situation to see whether the IL is involved.

The Mets are set to call up Gary Sanchez from Syracuse on Friday — which was Sanchez’s opt-out date if he wasn’t promoted to the major leagues — to work in tandem with Francisco Alvarez.

At the same time, Tomas Nido is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment in his return from dry eye syndrome that was affecting his vision, and Omar Narvaez is close to beginning a rehab assignment in his rehab from a left calf strain.

Team officials like backup catcher Michael Perez, but he is out of options and would have to pass through waivers before returning to Syracuse. Could a suspect injury be in his future? What about with Nido?

The Mets are hardly the only team appearing to employ such roster tactics. The Dodgers have practically turned IL list manipulation into an art form in recent years. This season it just appears more obvious the Mets are taking their own liberties with the IL.

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Jeff McNeil has two different gloves that sit in his locker: one for second base and another for the outfield.

He said if he played third base more frequently, he would own a third glove.

The larger of the gloves — a Jackie Bradley Jr. model — measures 12 ¾ inches. His second-base glove is 11 ¼ inches. Both gloves were manufactured by Rawlings.

“The smaller glove helps me transfer the ball easier,” McNeil said. “If you use the larger glove, [the ball] will get caught in the webbing and the transfers aren’t as clean and it’s harder to find it in there.”

His previous third-base glove was smaller than the outfield version, but larger than a second baseman’s mitt because of the speed of line drives hit to the hot corner.

McNeil leaves one glove on his chair in the clubhouse for most games, knowing where he can find it in a hurry if needed. If the clubhouse isn’t easily accessible in a visiting ballpark, he brings both gloves to the dugout.

McNeil recalled that Mark Canha played third base last season with an outfielder’s glove. But Canha is the exception to the rule, according to McNeil.

“It was one game, and just because he felt comfortable fielding a ground ball with it,” McNeil said. “But for the most part, everyone’s probably got two.”

Francisco Lindor still owes McNeil a car for winning the National League batting title last season. Lindor this week declined to provide details about what might be holding up the transaction, but offered reassurance that McNeil will be receiving a car.

“A hundred percent it’s going to happen,” Lindor said.

It was about last year at this time that McNeil was off to a strong start for the Mets and Lindor pledged to buy his double-play partner a car if McNeil won the batting title. McNeil finished the season at .326, becoming the second Mets player (Jose Reyes in 2011 was the other) to win the batting title.

After signing a four-year contract extension with the Mets over the winter, McNeil indicated he had texted Lindor pictures of Italian cars that intrigued him.

McNeil has more important things to worry about lately than cars: He is batting .282 and has enjoyed only one real hot stretch, in late April when he raised his average from .242 to .301 over a seven-game stretch.

Former Mets pitcher Glendon Rusch will represent the Mets at the Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown on May 27 at Doubleday Field. Each MLB franchise is represented in the seven-inning game. Other former Mets playing in the game, representing other teams, include James Loney, Terrence Long and Rajai Davis.

Rusch pitched in the Mets’ Old Timers’ game last summer, and said he throws “pretty regularly” because his sons play at the high school and college levels.

The left-hander Rusch, who pitched for the Mets from 1999-2001, will appear at Citi Field on June 3 when former teammate Al Leiter will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame, along with Howard Johnson, Gary Cohen and Howie Rose.

Rusch said he’s honored Leiter invited him to the induction ceremony.

“I was a young guy coming over from Kansas City when I got traded to the Mets, and Al helped me so much with mental toughness and how to prepare between starts and adversity,” Rusch said. “He always brings off such a positive vibe and instills confidence in you, and that’s what he was for me. He really helped me believe in myself and believe that I could succeed at that level.”