The détente was reached over the phone, and over common ground. Matt Harvey said on the call that he wants to pitch in the postseason, in accord with the Mets' desire for him to pitch.
So as the conversation continued with Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, Harvey, his agent Scott Boras and Dr. James Andrews, they came up with a plan that seems to have satisfied everyone, sources say.
As the regular season winds down and the Mets continue to move closer to clinching the NL East -- their magic number is eight -- Harvey, searching for a routine that will prepare him for the playoffs, will have two starts of about 70 pitches, the first against the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball. Then he will make a start even more abbreviated, maybe three innings, in the final days of the regular season.
Harvey will then be aligned for one start in the Division Series, and along the way, there will be continued conversations. Dr. Andrews' intention is to watch Harvey pitch, evaluate his performance, look for red-flag signs of physical fatigue, then consult with his patient to offer recommendations. For now, Dr. Andrews is OK with Harvey continuing to take the ball; if that changes, he'll tell Harvey.