DETROIT — Max Scherzer would have rather returned from his suspension to pitch against the Braves, but the alternative at least brings an additional storyline with it.

The Mets right-hander will be back pitching Wednesday at Comerica Park, where his career began to rise after two seasons with Arizona.

The start will be in the second game of a split doubleheader, after the game between the Mets and Tigers on Tuesday night was postponed by rain.

It will be only Scherzer’s second start at Comerica since he left the Tigers for the Nationals following the 2014 season.

“The five years that I was here were arguably the best in the recent history for the Tigers,” the Mets’ co-ace said Tuesday. “To be a part of that run, it was awesome. We had such good teams, good players. This is where I developed. I came into my own here and you reflect upon it and it was a huge five years of my career.”

Scherzer’s last start, on April 19 at Dodger Stadium, concluded after only three innings, when he was ejected for violating MLB’s rules on foreign substances.

He was subsequently suspended 10 games, but because he decided not to appeal and began the punishment immediately, Scherzer had planned to return Monday to face the Braves in the finale of a homestand.

But that plan was scuttled when the game Saturday was postponed by rain and won’t be made up until Aug. 12.

As a result, Scherzer’s ban didn’t conclude until the Mets had played the nightcap of their doubleheader Monday against the Braves following a Sunday rainout.

“I would rather face a division opponent. The Braves are good,” Scherzer said. “It’s fun to face them. It’s a challenge. … but at the same time this is the major leagues, you can’t overlook any team in the league.”

Scherzer deflected a question about how he planned to proceed using rosin.

Scherzer said he used only rosin and sweat to help him grip the baseball in his last start, but the umpiring crew, led by Phil Cuzzi, objected to the level of stickiness on his right hand, leading to the ejection and suspension.

Scherzer first was instructed to wash the hand, and complied.

He later changed his glove at Cuzzi’s request.

How will Scherzer deal with the rosin issue when he returns to the mound?

“I’m not going to go into the process, because if you have a process that’s cheating,” Scherzer said.

What was the toughest part of his almost two weeks removed from competition?

“It all sucked,” Scherzer said.

Before his last start, Scherzer had been pushed back three days in the rotation due to discomfort below his right scapula.

Scherzer said he has improved physically during the layoff.

He previously told The Post he chose to view the suspension’s silver lining, that he received additional rest.

He will be returning ahead of Justin Verlander, whose season and Mets debut is scheduled for Thursday after he has spent five weeks on the injured list, giving the Mets a semblance of a whole rotation for the first time.

“When the starting rotation goes and guys are chewing up innings it saves innings on the bullpen,” Scherzer said. “Those guys start getting into roles and when they get into roles they get comfortable and they start pitching better, so it all feeds itself. So much of how the team performs comes down to starting pitching.”

During Scherzer’s tenure in Detroit from 2010-14, with Verlander as his co-pilot, the Tigers reached the postseason four straight years, which included a World Series appearance in 2012.

Scherzer won the first of his three Cy Young awards in 2013.

Scherzer departed after he received a seven-year contract from the Nationals worth $210 million.

The Tigers have not reached the postseason since Scherzer’s exit.

“It was definitely tough [to leave],” Scherzer said. “You are here and you want things to work out, but sometimes a business situation doesn’t work out in your favor.”