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NEW YORK (AP) — Even as they aim to win the NL East, the New York Mets are minding their future.
Resolved to protect their prized young pitchers, the first-place Mets confirmed Wednesday that starter Noah Syndergaard will be skipped this weekend in Miami when fellow rookie Steven Matz returns from injury. And manager Terry Collins also acknowledged ace Matt Harvey will likely be passed over once more in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.
It's all part of New York's plan to limit innings for Harvey and Syndergaard this year in the hope of preventing injury. New York skipped Harvey's turn in the rotation Aug. 23 at Colorado.
Collins said the Mets have two possible dates in mind for skipping Harvey again, but declined to divulge any more details than that.
"I'm real tired of talking about this," Collins said curtly. "This was set down a long time ago. I'm all done juggling all the pieces."
Harvey started Wednesday night against Philadelphia and is lined up to pitch again next week at second-place Washington. Seeking their first playoff appearance in nine years, the Mets began the day with a 6 1/2-game lead over the Nationals.
Matz is scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Marlins, his first major league outing in two months. The touted left-hander won his first two career starts, then went on the disabled list in early July with a partially torn muscle near his armpit.
Syndergaard is expected to return to the rotation next week in Atlanta.
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