NEW YORK (AP) Even as they aim to win the NL East, the New York Mets are minding their future.
Resolved to protect their prized young pitchers, the first-place Mets confirmed Wednesday that starter Noah Syndergaard will be skipped this weekend in Miami when fellow rookie Steven Matz returns from injury. And manager Terry Collins also acknowledged ace Matt Harvey will likely be passed over once more in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.
It's all part of New York's plan to limit innings for Harvey and Syndergaard in the hope of preventing injury. New York skipped Harvey's turn Aug. 23 at Colorado.
Matz is scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Marlins, his first major league outing in two months. The touted left-hander won his first two career starts, then went on the disabled list in early July with a partially torn muscle near his armpit.
Syndergaard is expected to return to the rotation next week in Atlanta.
Seeking their first playoff appearance in nine years, the Mets began the day with a 6 1/2-game lead over second-place Washington.
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