Justin Verlander’s first regular-season game as a member of the Mets organization likely will happen at Single-A.

Though Verlander said last week that he hoped to avoid a rehab start in his return from a low-grade teres major strain in his shoulder, manager Buck Showalter has revealed that a minor league assignment is part of the plan.

The Mets are sending Verlander, who was in the clubhouse after a 5-2 win against the Padres, to their spring-training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. as his teammates embark on a 10-game California road trip.

“Very close to putting his foot on the pedal a little bit,” Showalter said. “Had a really good day [Tuesday]. The people that work with him were very encouraged. When we go west, he’s going south.”

Verlander, who signed a two-year, $86.6 million contract in the offseason, will throw a couple of side sessions from a slope for the first time and “then we’ll put him in a game down there,” Showalter said.

“We’ve been very cautious with it,” the manager said. “He’s champing at the bit but we’re going to resolve everything in there before we turn it loose.”

Tylor Megill (3-0) improved to 7-0 in eight April starts over the last two seasons. No pitcher in MLB has more April victories in that stretch.

Megill has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of those eight starts and three hits or fewer in five of them.

He strained his shoulder last June and didn’t sustain the level of his early season success.

Wednesday, he was pitching on four days’ rest for the first time this season, which is why Showalter went to the bullpen after Megill had thrown just 81 pitches through five innings.

“Sometimes the best development is 2-3 weeks after the season, just taking a step back and looking at things and say, ‘Now I know what’s coming,’ ” Showalter said. “He did some things physically. I don’t think he’s chasing the velocity as much as he did last year.”

Relief pitcher Tommy Hunter (back spasm) threw batting practice Tuesday and it “went really well,” Showalter said. He is eligible to come off the injured list on April 19.

“I think he is going to be ready to go [when eligible] or shortly thereafter,” Showalter added.