Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey told reporters Saturday that he always thought he had a 180-inning limit this season, according to MLB.com.
The comments come just one day after the Mets declared their intent to start the 26-year-old ace through the postseason. Harvey has already pitched 166 1/3 innings in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, despite the team skipping his start on Aug. 23.
MORE: Memorable Mets moments | Mets will benefit from September call-ups more than most contenders
According to ESPN, the Mets plan on giving Harvey at least four more starts in the regular season, with one more possibly skipped later this month. The team expects him to reach somewhere around 190 innings before the playoffs, and for him to pitch a "reasonable" amount of innings during the postseason.
"We've consulted with Matt all the way through. We will continue to do that," assistant general manager John Ricco said via ESPN. "I don't think anything will change. … I think we're very comfortable with the fact that we've had a plan. It has involved the doctors all the way through. To this point, they're still fine with that plan. We all think it's a reasonable way to go."
The Mets took a cautious approach initially following Harvey's injury. But they are currently just five games ahead of the surging Nationals in the NL East and feel they need one of their top starters as the season hits its most important point.
Harvey said that Dr. James Andrews, who performed his Tommy John surgery, said that his pitch limit was 180 innings just a few weeks ago.
His next scheduled start is Tuesday against Washington and when asked if he would pitch in the playoffs and who would make the call when the time comes, Harvey repeated that he was focused on his next start.
Harvey is currently 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 25 starts this season. Earlier this season, he complained about the Mets implementing a six-man rotation, saying the extra rest left him feeling "out of whack."