DENVER — Noah Syndergaard was mildly surprised to learn that Friday will mark one month since he last pitched for the Mets.

“Jesus, has it been that long?” the right-hander said Wednesday before the Mets’ 10-8 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field. “It seems like it has been a while, but it still seems like yesterday I was in Milwaukee throwing.”

A strained ligament in his right index finger that was initially supposed to cost Syndergaard only one start has lingered longer than he could have imagined. Slowly, he is working to return, trying to ensure the soreness does not return.

This week he has played catch in the outfield three straight days with a modified splint protecting the finger. Syndergaard says the pain has disappeared and he’s ready to begin throwing without the splint once the Mets return to Citi Field on Friday. And there is optimism among team officials that he might throw a bullpen session over the weekend or shortly thereafter. A minor league rehab start would presumably follow, before Syndergaard could rejoin the rotation.

The Mets have missed Syndergaard, who is 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts, in a trickle-down effect. Syndergaard’s replacement in the rotation, Seth Lugo, had pitched reasonably well entering his Wednesday night start against the Rockies. But removing Lugo from the bullpen has weakened that unit, which was most evident during a horrid stretch early this month.

“The one thing that has been affected is the bullpen,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “We had to take one of our better relievers and stick him in the rotation. But our rotation has been great over the last month or so. At least numbers-wise we have been one of the best rotations in the league. We are looking forward to getting [Syndergaard] back, because we’re going to be a better team when he is active.”

Syndergaard indicated his arm strength has remained, and he’s “throwing rockets” in his drills.

“It really sucks, especially because it’s really a minor injury,” Syndergaard said. “It’s a finger injury, but I am working on kind of fine-tuning other parts of my game and just trying to visualize pitches so when I get back out there I am not rusty.”

His closest brush with a return came for the Subway Series finale at Citi Field on June 10. But during a throwing session leading up to the start Syndergaard had discomfort in the finger and decided not to rush back.

“I could still feel a little something in there and spoke up about it, but I felt I could have thrown through it,” Syndergaard said. “But the training staff and myself decided it was probably good to shut it down early and let it fully recover.”

With the Mets scuffling — they began play 31-39, fourth in the NL East — Syndergaard’s name has surfaced in early trade-deadline buzz. And though the Mets are more likely to trade Syndergaard than Jacob deGrom, the probability is both pitchers will remain with the club.

“To be quite honest I haven’t been paying much attention to that mumbo jumbo,” Syndergaard said, when asked about the trade rumors. “I can only control what’s in my control. If that were to happen, it’s completely outside of what I am capable of controlling.”