Matt Harvey slated for game action on March 6

Matt Harvey, who has not appeared in a game since August of 2013, is tentatively scheduled to start the Mets’ home Spring Training opener on March 6.

The start on March 6 would mark Harvey’s first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October of 2013.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Harvey has been throwing off the mound every other day since he arrived at camp, and is scheduled to do so again on Friday after an extra day off.

As far as Harvey’s regular season debut goes, it was initially said by some in the Mets’ camp that Harvey could be held back for the home opener at Citi Field on April 13, but that no longer appears to be the case.

Harvey is basically on a regular schedule and manager Terry Collins recently said that he would pitch one of the first five games of the regular season.

Harvey’s innings will be limited in 2015 due to it being his first year back from surgery, but the Mets have maintained that the limit (thought to be around 180 innings) will have a “soft” cap.

In order to get Harvey through the entire season and the playoffs, the Mets will likely be shortening some of his starts early on, skipping a start here and there, and/or giving him some scheduled time off during the season.

Thoughts:

With Harvey just over 16 months post-surgery, he is going through a regular Spring Training routine.

The only thing the Mets have to consider is how they’ll manage Harvey’s innings in order to get him through the season. The health part of it appears to be in the rearview mirror.

Of course, Harvey making his first Spring Training start on March 6 (in a game that will air on SNY from Port St. Lucie) makes all the sense in the world.

Harvey is the big draw and the club is properly maximizing buzz.

While throwing at Citi Field late last season, Harvey hit 95 MPH on the radar gun. With the adrenaline flowing on March 6, it’ll be interesting to see how far Harvey reaches back.