ATLANTA — Matt Harvey is getting closer to the Mets’ starting rotation by the day.
After watching Miguel Batista’s latest struggles, manager Terry Collins yesterday stopped just short of pronouncing Harvey’s scheduled start for Triple-A Buffalo tomorrow as a tryout for Saturday, when the Mets will need a starting pitcher.
“We are going to have some people that are there who are watching it,” Collins said of the right-hander’s scheduled start against Toledo. “Monday night we might get the reports back [that] he’s the guy — that he’s ready.”
Collins conceded that Batista and Harvey are the only real candidates for the Saturday start against the Dodgers at Citi Field. The 41-year-old Batista did nothing to enhance his position by walking four batters over 1 1/3 innings in a relief appearance against the Braves on Friday.
Harvey is 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 18 starts for Buffalo this season, with 102 strikeouts and 42 walks over 98 1/3 innings.
The need for another starter comes with Dillon Gee on the disabled list and expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair an artery in his right shoulder.
Harvey has dazzled with his fastball, but the Mets want to see if his curveball and changeup are ready for the major leagues. Collins said Harvey sometimes has been reluctant to throw either pitch, much to the organization’s dismay.
“When we talk about development of players,” Collins said, “we’re trying to get them developed to play in the big leagues — not to be successful in the International League.”