After the Mets wasted yet another great start by Matt Harvey and their ace took another tough-luck no-decision in a 6-4 loss to the Nationals last night at Citi Field, Terry Collins expressed concern over the prospect of overusing the young starter.
“He was outstanding. He got us where we had to get to,’’ the Mets manager said. “As I said, we’ve got to start being careful here. This guy has thrown a lot of pitches and a lot of games and gotten us deep into a lot of games. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t just let him loose and overuse him.’’
In 17 starts, Harvey has thrown 117 innings, 30 more than anybody else on the staff.
“If they decide whatever innings limit is on their mind then I have no say in it,” said Harvey, who threw 110 last year at Triple-A Buffalo and another 59 1/3 after being promoted. “Right now I’m around 120. All I’m worried about is taking the ball every fifth day. Whatever they decide is what they decide.
“It’s always there with every team. It’s something I can’t worry about. All I can do is go out there ever fifth day and try to go nine and put I zeroes up. … I can only go out and do what I can do. If they decide to shut me down that’s their call.’’
* Ruben Tejada made his first rehab appearance since going on the disabled list May 30 with a quadriceps strain, playing five innings at shortstop last night in the Gulf Coast League. He went 1-for-2 with a double.
* Josh Satin’s three hits and two RBI were a career high.
* Eric Young Jr. is batting .419 (13-for-31) in his seven-game hitting streak, which he continued with a fifth-inning single.
He is hitting .359 with five runs scored, four doubles and six RBIs in nine games with the Mets after batting .242 with the Rockies.