There are lessons to be learned from the Matt Harvey Experience and all the Mets have to do is look back at Jacob deGrom, who is lined up to start Game 1 of the NLDS.
DeGrom missed the 2011 season after Tommy John surgery following the 2010 season.
In 2012, deGrom pitched 111 ¹/₃ minor league innings. That was his first year after Tommy John surgery. The previous year at Stetson University, and his first year of minor league ball with the Mets, the right-hander totaled 108 ¹/₃ innings.
In 2013, deGrom pitched 147 ²/₃ innings.
In 2014, deGrom built up to 178 ²/₃ innings, 38 ¹/₃ were in the minors, and the Mets shut him down at the end of the season as he won Rookie of the Year honors.
Manager Terry Collins said, at the time, it was clearly the right thing to do — he was in the same territory Harvey is at right now.
“Matt is doing a great job,’’ deGrom told The Post Tuesday night as the Mets dropped a 6-2 decision to the lowly Braves at Citi Field but still managed to have their magic number drop to six because of the Nationals’ 4-1 loss to the Orioles.
This season deGrom is at 181 innings.
Still, there is a price to be paid for skipping starters and Logan Verrett started in deGrom’s place and surrendered a four-run fifth to the Braves, giving up two home runs.
“We have to play better,’’ Collins said. “All of a sudden we’ve hit a wall.’’
Collins said deGrom will start Sunday against the Reds, which puts him in line for Game 1 against the Dodgers in the playoffs, as expected.
Like deGrom, Harvey has already given one elbow to the campaign, so no more talk please about Harvey not stepping up a year after missing the season.
Harvey is at 176 ²/₃ innings, yet there is nothing but Harvey Hysteria because the Mets are headed to the postseason. In 2014 they were headed nowhere.
The postseason rotation is being set with deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Harvey and Steven Matz expected to be the Big Young Four starters for the first-round matchup against the Dodgers.
If the series starts in L.A., Syndergaard gets Game 3 at Citi Field. If the series starts at Citi Field, Syndergaard would start Game 2 with Harvey starting Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.
“Doing what we are doing now with Jake, I like the status of the pitching staff. I think the rest is going to help Jake,’’ Collins said. “Skipping Noah, he’s come back and has thrown the ball really well. I think it made a big difference and hopefully in two weeks they are going to show it.’’
Of course, the Mets have to get there first and not collapse. There is still work to be done.
“They built me up year after year and it was good,’’ deGrom said of the pitching plan. “I think last year, when they shut me down at the end, big picture, it was a smart move. We weren’t in a race, it was my first time pitching that late in the year and that was the most I’ve pitched in my career.’’
“Matt looks good when he is out there, so I think he’ll be fine.’’
Harvey said Tuesday that when his number is called in the postseason: “I’ll be ready to go.’’
That’s really all the Mets need to hear.
Limiting Harvey’s innings is the right thing to do as long as Harvey makes that playoff start. That’s imperative.
Sandy Alderson is acting as a steward — which is the right thing to do. The Mets, Harvey, his agent Scott Boras and Dr. James Andrews are on the same page now.
Pitching coach Dan Warthen predicted 185 innings for Harvey back in spring training.
The Mets are heading to the playoffs a year earlier than they anticipated.
This is a reverse Murphy’s Law for the Mets — what could go right has gone right.
At this stage, I’m all for Harvey having a three-inning start next time out. Just be ready to punch-in against the Dodgers.
