Robinson Cano’s painful first season with the Mets took another downward turn Sunday.

Before the team’s 6-1 victory over the Rockies, the slumping second baseman was placed on the injured list for a second time in less than three weeks with his left quadriceps as the issue. Cano indicated the IL stint (retroactive to June 6) would allow him to work back into baseball shape without disrupting the team.

“It’s kind of like go down and get more at-bats and get ready,” said Cano, who will report to Syracuse or Binghamton for a rehab assignment on Tuesday. “I like that because it’s much better for me and the team and for all of us.”

Cano was activated from the IL on Wednesday, but departed the game early because of leg discomfort. Cano first sustained the injury two weeks earlier and was placed on the IL.

In recent days the Mets had been playing short-handed, hoping Cano wouldn’t need another IL stint.

“I think we just got the point where we felt this was the best thing for Robbie at this point,” Callaway said. “We need Robbie to be back playing 100 percent a

nd being the player he needs to be and we felt this route was going to give us the best chance to accomplish that.”

Cano owns a .238/.284/.366 slash line with three homers and 14 RBIs in 46 games with the Mets this season.

Tim Peterson was selected from Triple-A Syracuse to take Cano’s roster spot.

Callaway downplayed the notion the Mets played short for a few days.

“I don’t feel like we were playing short-handed,” Callaway said. “Obviously we got a pitcher and I don’t think we needed a pitcher the last couple of days so we weren’t really playing short-handed and our pitching was well-rested and we were fine to cover everything.”

Callaway expects to start Dominic Smith at first base with Pete Alonso as the DH on Monday with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka on the mound for the Yankees.

Mets starting pitchers posted a 1.80 ERA in their last turn through the rotation. Overall, team starting pitchers have thrown six straight quality starts and seven in a row at Citi Field.

The Mets finished with a season-high three stolen bases. Adeiny Hechavarria, Carlos Gomez and Amed Rosario each had a steal.