PORT ST. LUCIE — Give this man a chill pill.
When Matt Harvey walks to the mound Friday at Tradition Field to face the Tigers in his return to competitive pitching for the Mets, it will be a moment in itself. The hard part might be convincing Harvey it's just an exhibition start.
Harvey claims he gets it. He conducted interviews in a low-key manner Thursday and gave concise responses, showing little trace of emotion.
"I am excited about being back and just looking at it as a step closer to the season," Harvey said.
The Mets are realistic enough to know Harvey, who last faced an opponent on Aug. 24, 2013, before undergoing Tommy John surgery and the ensuing rehab, will be a different animal once the national anthem is played.
What is pitching coach Dan Warthen's hope for Harvey?
"That he focuses on the process and not the result," Warthen said. "That he doesn't see 97 or 98 [mph] and stays with his delivery and gets his foot down and throws the baseball the way he's been throwing it throughout his whole rehab."
Is Warthen confident the 25-year-old fireballer will take that approach?
"No," Warthen said.
Harvey's mound opponent will be his old friend David Price — the two became acquainted when the Tigers lefty was at Single-A Durham and Harvey a college student at nearby North Carolina — only adding to the big-event atmosphere.
The plan calls for Harvey to throw 35-40 pitches over two innings, before Noah Syndergaard enters.
"[Harvey] is going to be all jacked up, and he should be," manager Terry Collins said. "But I just want him to go out there and say 'This is part of the process in getting back. And you know you're not going to do any more to make a huge impression on this club by trying to overthrow.'
"Just go out there and hit your spots and work on your stuff and let the two innings play out. We all know we're going to have to ratchet him down a bit before he walks on that mound."
Matt Harvey signs autographs for fans earlier in spring training.Photo: Anthony J. Causi
Harvey threw live batting practice to David Wright and Curtis Granderson on Monday and had a side session two days later. After the batting practice session, Harvey raved about his curveball, a pitch on which he is placing more emphasis in spring training.
Warthen would like to see Harvey use his fastball, changeup and curve on Friday and limit the number of sliders he throws.
"I am just going to work on stuff and get ready and being out there for two innings facing hitters — nothing different than I've always done in spring training," Harvey said.
Though Harvey probably could have returned late in the 2014 season, the Mets opted to give him extra rest with the hope it would strengthen the elbow.
But general manager Sandy Alderson said the elbow is still a concern, given the number of pitchers in recent years who have needed a second Tommy John surgery.
"We are happy where he is right now, but there are no guarantees," Alderson said. "Everything we did looks good to this point."
Alderson said the buzz leading up to Harvey's first start has been difficult to ignore.
"I think it will be fun to see him out there again and I'm happy for him as well," Alderson said. "There will be a good crowd, it's on TV and people have been following his rehab, his sides, his live B.P., his whole progression. It's another step in the right direction."
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