SAN FRANCISCO — Just give Matt Harvey the damn ball.
Blister or no blister, the Mets want their stud right-hander on the mound to start Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Citi Field and are confident NL manager Bruce Bochy will make it a reality.
“We’re trying to see that it gets done,” a high-ranking team official said Tuesday before the Mets’ 10-6 win over the Giants at AT&T Park.
What if Bochy bypasses Harvey and picks somebody else for the start?
“I think we would understand,” the official said. “But we definitely want [Harvey] to be the guy.”
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There was some thought the Mets might want Harvey in a reduced role for the All-Star Game given the fact he has recently battled a blister on his right index finger and is scheduled to pitch Saturday in Pittsburgh. But the team official said the blister is of minimal concern, and there are no worries Harvey will be overextended.
“We’re all in favor of it,” the team official said, referring to the All-Star Game. “We want him to pitch. [Harvey] wants to pitch. It would be a great thing for Mets fans. It’s not an issue.”
After the Mets’ 4-3 victory over the Giants in 16 innings on Monday, Harvey divulged the blister has been present for his last three starts.
Manager Terry Collins yesterday said he and pitching coach Dan Warthen are discussing options to lighten Harvey’s workload, including the possibility of letting Carlos Torres pitch in his place on Saturday. Or the Mets could shorten Harvey’s outing.
Harvey already has pitched 130 innings, and the Mets want to keep him around 210 for the entire season. So Saturday could be an ideal time to let Harvey rest.
“Dan and I are talking about trying to figure out how to start to cut this guy back a little bit,” Collins said. “We have to decide what happens on Saturday.”
Collins did not seem overly concerned about the blister.
“He looks great today, his fingers look tremendous,” Collins said. “I’m very happy with what the results were after he had it worked on [Monday] night and today, so he’ll be fine. He’s going to be just fine.”
Harvey, who will throw a side session today, only would say that he doesn’t consider the finger an issue.
“I’m taking a day off — I’m not talking to anybody about it,” he said.
Harvey took a no-decision in Monday’s marathon, allowing three earned runs over seven innings. The Mets led 3-2 entering the seventh and Collins sent Harvey back to the mound, despite the fact he had already thrown 107 pitches.
In his previous start, Harvey appeared to be on fumes heading into the seventh against the Diamondbacks and allowed two runs in the inning, without recording an out, to receive his second loss of the season.
Before the game Bochy said Monday’s performance wasn’t going to affect his decision either way.
“I can’t say this game is going to play a big part in it,” Bochy said. “I know which way I’m leaning. This kid is having a special year. I know he’s from New York. All that has been discussed. I’ll just leave it at that right now.”
Harvey already has received the endorsement of his primary competition for the start, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
“There’s no reason, especially if it’s in New York, that he shouldn’t start,” Kershaw told FoxSports.com. “That’s what the fans will want. I’ve got no problem with that.”