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Mets set rotation for Yankees series; Matt Harvey starts Sunday

Said Collins: “We’ve talked to Matt enough times and he’s on board with what we’re thinking about doing”. “He doesn’t need to have 15 days off. We got to have him ready”. “We realize there’s an innings limit, we realize he’s getting close”. The 26-year-old is being kept on a 180-185 innings leash by the Mets this season at the urging of his agent Scott Boras. However, the Mets have yet again changed the plan for their star pitcher while the newest proposal will allow him to stay fresh for the postseason with tandem starts.

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To keep his workload reasonable while keeping him sharp, the Mets will likely “piggy-back” a long reliever with Harvey down the stretch. On the other hand, however, Harvey is a pitcher for the Mets, and the Mets are looking at their first playoff berth since 2006, with a potential division crown to boot.

Of course, if Harvey continues to get blown up like he did in his last outing against the Nationals, then the innings limit may come naturally.

“It’s kind of how it’s been going, I left a few over the middle”, Clippard said.

Verrett will make the start Monday against the Marlins in what would have been Harvey’s place.

Collins said reports that it could be three to four innings a start are incorrect.

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“I don’t have any statistics in my head…. But it won’t be real deep in the game”. “Use his changeup, use his slider, he doesn’t beat himself pretty much”, Collins said. “It’s hard”, Collins continued. “No excuses. I pitch a lot every year. We’re real comfortable starting him”.

Matt Harvey