MLB

Mets’ rallying cry to finish season: We’re No. 3!

MIDDLE MEN: For Justin Turner and the Mets, the management-mandated goal for the rest of the season is to shoot for finishing in third place in the National League East, ahead of the Phillies and Marlins.

Third place or bust for the Mets?

As much as Terry Collins has a difficult time embracing a goal that doesn’t involve the playoffs, the Mets manager says he understands team brass’ recent decree that finishing third in the NL East would be meaningful.

On Sunday, a team source told The Post the organization’s goal over these final 34 games is to finish third, ahead of the Phillies and Marlins, with the idea of creating a more positive perception of the Mets heading to the offseason.

Collins later confirmed he has received the same message from team brass. The Mets (59-69) will begin play in Philadelphia tonight two games behind the Phillies for third place in the NL East.

“We talked, how it would be great for us — with the way we started the season — to finish third,” said Collins, whose Mets are 18 1/2 games behind the first-place Nationals and trail the Cardinals by 11 for the second wild card. “We played so well so long, let’s get back and at least play for third.

“Even though that’s a statement I don’t like to hear, it gives us something to shoot for and certainly it goes into winter time with a better taste in your mouth.”

But the new goal evidently hasn’t been conveyed to the players.

“I haven’t heard that from anybody,” pitcher Chris Young said when asked about playing for third place. “But our goal was to finish first and we want to finish as high as we possibly can.”

Catcher Josh Thole was also unaware of the new goal.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of that,” Thole said. “We want to be in first place. If we’re in third place and we’re ahead of the Phillies and the Marlins, we’re still not necessarily in the playoffs.”

Collins indicated there was no need for him to discuss third place, specifically, with the players.

“I told them to play it out,” Collins said. “The perception is we’ve cashed it in. That’s not true. ‘Play the game out. Play the year out. Finish it hard. Finish it with some energy and play the way we did early in the season.’ I know we’re tired and we’re sore and a lot of guys are gone or hurt, but we’ve got to play.

“Ultimately when you finish in third place, it’s still third place — it’s not good enough. We’re aware of that. We have to get better. But for all intent and purposes it would be good for guys to say, ‘After that real bad August we had, we fought back and finished it [strong].’ That might be something.”

The Mets, who have finished fourth in the NL East the last three seasons, still have 15 games remaining against the Phillies and Marlins.

“It’s like anything: It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s how you finish,” Thole said. “If we just close up shop and say, ‘Whatever happens happens,’ then people have the right to say, ‘It’s happened for the last four years.’ ”

Dillon Gee won’t return this season, but the Mets pitcher is expected to take a step forward in his rehab by beginning to play catch next week.

A team spokesman on Monday said the right-hander received a clean bill of health Friday in St. Louis, where Gee had a checkup following surgery last month to repair a damaged artery in his right shoulder.

Gee last week said his goal over the final month of the season is to throw pain-free and arrive at spring training next year ready to regain his spot in the starting rotation. Gee was 6-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 17 starts for the Mets this season.

Daniel Murphy, who left Sunday’s game with tightness in his right shoulder, had an MRI exam yesterday, the results of which were negative. Murphy is cleared to play tonight.