PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Harvey’s slider is biting again.
The pitch that made the Mets righty so dominant in 2013, when he started the All-Star Game for the National League, was largely absent last season in his return from Tommy John surgery, but Harvey said it has returned.
“I just really couldn’t throw it last year until the end, so you never know how it’s going to come out and today I threw a lot of good ones,” Harvey said Friday after throwing to hitters. “I kind of lived without it last year, so it’s a good sign that today it felt real well.”
Harvey said he probably didn’t have the slider for three-quarters of the season, but it began returning toward the end.
“I don’t know if it was a forearm thing or a feel thing,” he said. “But obviously I got it toward the end of the season.”
Zack Wheeler is scheduled to throw 10-15 pitches Saturday from in front of the rubber, for his first mound action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last spring. The righty is targeting July 1 for his return to the major leagues.
Though he still hasn’t been apprised of the specifics, Ruben Tejada gave his endorsement to the new MLB rule that will make illegal rolling, block slides that are used in an attempt to break up a double play. In Game 2 of the NLDS last year, the Dodgers’ Chase Utley broke Tejada’s leg with such a slide.
“They are trying to keep the middle infielders safe and healthy,” Tejada said. “That is the one important thing they are trying to do.”
Manager Terry Collins said he has spoken to players about trying to be more aggressive on the base paths this season. He cited the Mets’ success two years ago in taking extra bases.
Training Day
Crushed it
Neil Walker cleared the fence in right-center against Jeurys Familia during Friday’s live batting practice. Familia said he was just trying to throw the ball over the plate, with no concerns about velocity or movement.
Lagares rust
Juan Lagares had trouble removing the donut from his bat when his time to hit arrived and had to ask Walker to take his place in the cage.
Caught my eye
Eric Campbell, who played mostly third base, first base and left field last season, was working out with the second basemen.
Today’s schedule
The full squad continues workouts leading into the Grapefruit League opener on Thursday against the Nationals in Viera, Fla.