MLB

Mets won’t pitch Dickey on short rest — for now

As tempting as it might be to pitch R.A. Dickey every fourth day, Terry Collins isn’t about to explore that option.

The Mets manager said Tuesday the combination of trying to keep Jon Niese and Dillon Gee on normal rest and wanting to ensure Dickey is strong for an entire season has eliminated the possibility of using the knuckleballer every fourth day.

The Post’s Joel Sherman reported two weeks ago that Collins was considering a plan that would allow Dickey to pitch more frequently.

“Theoretically he probably only needs three days [rest], but to keep him on pace with four days is going to be great,” Collins said before the Mets’ 5-0 victory over the Orioles Tuesday night at Citi Field. “Everything looks great now that it’s June. Ask [Dickey] how he felt last September. He was tired, and the one thing we’re not going to do is have this guy worn out because we’re bringing him back on three days’ rest.”

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Dickey, who is 11-1 with a 2.00 ERA, said he would be open to discuss it if Collins wants him pitching on short rest, but admitted the “mental grind” could be difficult. Dickey also said the fatigue level he endures between starts varies.

Collins said a juggled rotation could benefit Johan Santana, who upped his record to 5-3 after throwing six scoreless innings, and Chris Young, allowing them to get extra rest, but he fears Niese and Gee would suffer.

“We haven’t been brave enough to try it just yet, because I think it screws up [Niese and Gee],” Collins said.

“I’m not really worried about R.A. as much, but I do believe because it would be such a drastic change, I think he would fatigue. It was a thought we juggled around. I didn’t like the way it would affect Gee and Niese, so we kind of canned it.”

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Jason Bay was examined by a concussion specialist for the second straight day and underwent an MRI exam, but the Mets didn’t receive any new information on their injured left fielder. Collins said he is not any more or less concerned than he was Friday, when Bay sustained the concussion as he hit his head on the left-field fence.

“I was worried the first day, so that hasn’t changed,” Collins said.

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Ruben Tejada went 0-for-4 for Single-A St. Lucie in a rehab game and played nine innings at shortstop. Tejada, who is recovering from strained quadriceps, could rejoin the Mets on their next road trip.

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David Wright’s fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Wright is hitting .324 (12-for-37) over that stretch. He now has three hitting streaks of 10 games or longer this season.

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Ike Davis’ grand slam on Monday gave the Mets 10 homers at Citi Field this season that wouldn’t have cleared the fence in previous years. Entering last night, opponents had hit nine “new Citi Field” homers.