MLB

Mets’ Harvey must take next step

SAN FRANCISCO — The adrenaline of his first major league start is past. Now we move on to the rest of the story with Matt Harvey.

Harvey squares off against Tim Lincecum and the Giants in his second start of his major league career tonight at AT&T Park. Adjustments will be made even though Harvey had a record-setting performance in his first start; striking out 11 Diamondbacks over 5 1/3 innings, three more strikeouts than any other Met has ever recorded in his major league debut, including Tom Seaver (eight) and Dwight Gooden (five) in the initial starts of their careers.

The Giants are well aware of what Harvey brings to the party.

“I watched that first start and he’s got electric stuff,’’ Giants manager Bruce Bochy told The Post last night before the Mets’ 8-7 10-inning win.

The challenge for Harvey tonight is not necessarily to get strikeouts, but to record a few more outs on fewer pitches so he can go deeper into the game.

“I’d like to see a little more mixture of his pitches,’’ pitching coach Dan Warthen said. That means more changeups and to throw those changeups at the right time.

“I’d like to see him throw more changeups to the 3-4-5 hitters. If he throws 10 a game, I’m very happy. There is no reason for him to throw changeups to the 7-8 hitters where his stuff is better than them. I’d also like to see him command his fastball a little bit better.’’

The education of Matt Harvey continues.

Two scouts at last night’s game said they were extremely impressed by the rookie.

“The action he got on his curveball was incredible,’’ said one. “He’s very athletic and repeats his delivery,’’ said the other before adding, “His only issue is that sometimes he gets under his fastball and pushes it.’’

Warthen said: “You certainly like the high-end velocity. He’s got a good solid delivery. He’s got a great demeanor on the mound. His attitude is: ‘I’m pretty good.’

“There is a nice confidence about him. He’s also got a linebacker’s body. It’s hard not to like everything he brings.’’

Warthen pointed out this vital fact in the education of a young pitcher:

“He asks great questions all the time. He wants to get better. He wants to learn. He’s always asking about hitters: ‘Can I do this to a guy, can I do that? This guy looks like he’s diving. I feel like I’m behind in my changeup.’

“He knows his body, he knows his mechanics, he knows his strengths, he knows his weaknesses. He wants to be better.’’

Harvey, 23, said he loved to play catcher growing up.

“It was really a position I enjoyed,’’ he said. “You’re in the middle of everything.’’

Harvey used his time at catcher to study hitters as well and that helped him grow as a pitcher. He even picked up two hits in his debut. Paul O’Neill and Derek Jeter were Harvey’s idols, so he brings that type of focus and intensity to his job.

“It’s fun to work with him and we have a lot of them coming up who are the same way,’’ Warthen said of the Mets’ up-and-coming young pitchers like Zack Wheeler. “They have the arms and they have the mentality of winning.’’

The talent-challenged Mets have too many players who are just happy to be in the majors. Harvey wants to excel; he grew up in Connecticut a Yankees fan when the Bombers were barreling through the American League from 1996-2000, winning four World Series. They also came so close in 2001.

It’s this winning mentality, Warthen said, that makes a difference: “ ‘I’m mad when I lose.’ It’s a good thing, how could you not love that attitude?’’

Too often, as Warthen noted, pitchers say after a loss, “I competed, I did well.’ That’s BS.’’

Matt Harvey’s game is all about winning and tonight he gets his second opportunity.