Harvey has ankle sprain, won't miss start vs. Yankees

NEW YORK -- About five minutes after the Mets completed Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Braves, manager Terry Collins approached Matt Harvey to ask about the status of his sprained left ankle. Collins told Harvey that the Mets would be more than willing to skip his Saturday start against the Yankees if need be.

"He gave me -- I don't even know what you'd call the look," Collins said, laughing. "He'll be out there Saturday."

Mets doctors earlier Wednesday diagnosed Harvey with a mild left ankle sprain, the result of a collision with an outfield wall while shagging fly balls in Spring Training. Though the injury did not bother Harvey much at first, it grew worse in recent weeks. Harvey suspects that a bit of fluid buildup in his ankle contributed to the soreness, as well as the unrelated illness that weakened him during his last start.

Regardless, Harvey fully intends to make his Subway Series start in the Bronx.

"We're still good to go for Saturday," Harvey said. "I just wanted to know why it wasn't getting better, and what was going on. For me and the training staff, the best thing was to get it checked out and make sure there was no structural damage, which there isn't, and that we're good to go."

Though Harvey said the injury should not affect him on the mound, he does plan to tape the ankle before his start. Feeling some discomfort throwing Wednesday without any tape, Harvey said he plans to wrap his ankle and try throwing again Thursday -- more to get used to the feeling of the tape than to test for pain.

"It's not affecting me pitching-wise," Harvey said. "It's just a little uncomfortable."

It has been that way for about a month for Harvey, who compiled a 3-0 record and 3.50 ERA over his first three starts, with 24 strikeouts and one walk in 18 innings. He gave up four runs in his last outing while battling illness.