Matt likely to return Friday,

WASHINGTON — Matt Harvey knows he has a lot to prove. The Mets righthander understands he hasn’t been able to stay healthy or pitch well since 2015. Harvey knows that he has disappointed the Mets and their fans on and off the field. “But there is nothing I can do but move forward and try to get back and pitch well,” Harvey said last week before heading out on his final minor league rehab start. “I just want to get back this season so I can start proving myself.”

Harvey will likely get that chance Friday.

The Mets are planning to have him come off the disabled list and make his first start in the majors since June. The Mets are hoping to have both Harvey and Noah Syndergaard, who has been out since tearing his right lat April 30, back in the rotation at some point in September.

Like Harvey, Syndergaard needs to get back on the mound before the offseason. Both pitchers need to prove that they are 100% healthy and still able to get major league hitters out.

The Mets need to see them healthy and find out what they can do to know how to rebuild around them for 2018.

Syndergaard threw to live batters for the first time on Saturday, and he is scheduled to throw another live batting practice session on Wednesday. The next step would likely be a minor-league rehab game, because the minor league seasons are winding down.

“I think he needs to pitch in a game,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “I think we can get him one. I don’t know how many pitches he is throwing on Wednesday, but we could still get him in one.

“We certainly plan on getting him back some time in September.”

The Mets can use a simulated game to stretch out Syndergaard, and they are also talking about using piggybacks (or schedule another starter to come in after) for him and possibly Harvey with other pitchers to protect themselves. Harvey, however, is a lot further along. Saturday night, Harvey allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits in 4.2 innings for the Mets’ Double-A franchise. The righthander threw 72 pitches.

Harvey said he felt good after the start, his arm and shoulder felt strong and he was happy he could repeat his delivery. A scout who was at the game reported that his velocity was consistently in the low 90s, topping out at about 93 miles per hour. The Mets, however, were not concerned with how hard he is throwing, feeling he will get a bump in velocity