Worth noting

• Second baseman Daniel Murphy was out of the lineup Tuesday for what Collins called a routine day off. Murphy had appeared in all of the Mets' first 72 games, and he extended that to 73 with a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss. Third baseman David Wright, who has also appeared in every team game, is tentatively scheduled to receive an off-day Thursday in Denver.

• The Mets have shuffled their rotation in an effort to split up hard-throwing right-handers Harvey and Zack Wheeler and softer throwers Dillon Gee and Jeremy Hefner. Harvey will skip forward in the rotation, pitching Friday against the Nationals on regular rest. Gee will start Saturday, and Wheeler on Sunday.

• Former Mets left-hander Michael O'Connor, now a Minor League free agent, received a 50-game suspension Tuesday after testing positive for metabolites of Trenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance. O'Connor, 32, appeared in nine games for the Mets in 2011, posting a 2.70 ERA.

• To make room for Zack Wheeler on the active roster, the Mets on Tuesday optioned right-hander Greg Burke to Triple-A Las Vegas. Burke only appeared once in his latest stint with the Mets, allowing one unearned run.