Mets GM Alderson outlines tentative plan for Harvey

WASHINGTON (AP) New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Monday he expects Matt Harvey won't pitch beyond the ''range'' of 180 innings in the regular season unless needed in the final series in early October.

As for the postseason, Harvey's availability will depend partly on how he's used down the stretch for the NL East leaders. Alderson added the plan is not yet final because he has yet to talk with Harvey's agent, Scott Boras.

''Let me get into detail after we've sort of worked it out among the parties,'' Alderson said before the first of three games against the second-place Washington Nationals. ''I don't want to get ahead of the situation and create another disconnect.''

Alderson already spoke with surgeon James Andrews and Harvey, who has pitched 166 1-3 innings in his first season since Tommy John surgery and is 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA. Harvey is to start Tuesday against Washington.

On Saturday, Harvey said Andrews had advised him not to pitch beyond 180 innings, putting his postseason availability in doubt. The next day, Harvey wrote on The Players' Tribune website that he would definitely pitch in the postseason, and that he and the Mets would work out a compromise to ensure his availability.

Alderson expects Harvey would be available in the postseason even if he pitches in the season's final series against Washington on Oct. 2-4. How deep into October Harvey could pitch is another matter.

''How he's used in the postseason is really going to be a function of how he's gotten through the six months of the regular season,'' Alderson said. ''I can't sit here and say he's going to be available throughout the entire playoffs, because we don't know how he will feel and what all of the considerations are at that time.''

With the Mets also managing innings for rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard, they will continue going with a six-man rotation through the rest of the season, Alderson said.

Manager Terry Collins said he is considering a number of options for Harvey after Tuesday's start. But such plans are contingent on how the Mets play between now and the right-hander's next scheduled turn.

''It all depends on where we stand,'' Collins said. ''You can talk postseason all you want. You've got to get there. And he's going to be a big piece to get there.''

Three years ago today, Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg pitched his final game of the 2012 season after coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Washington won the NL East handily that season, but without Strasburg lost the NLDS in five games to St. Louis.