Monster mash

Mets bash LA, Utley; can clinch tonight

Chase Utley, talking to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly at Citi Field Monday afternoon, wasn’t in the Game 3 starting lineup but was available for duty. Utley’s

two-game ban by MLB for his leg-breaking slide into Ruben Tejada in Game 2 was delayed so that he could have time to present an appeal.

Chase Utley’s punishment, if any, will have to wait — maybe until after the NLDS is complete.

After appealing his two-game suspension for the slide into second base that ended Ruben Tejada’s season Saturday, the Dodgers infielder was avai l abl e to play Monday’s Game 3 of the NLDS against the Mets, but did not crack manager Don Mattingly’s s t art i ng lineup against Matt Harvey.

MLB off i ci al s are expected to decide Tuesday on when Utley’s appeal will be heard, but it won’t be before Game 4 of the NLDS, according to sources. MLB wanted to hold the hearing Monday, but Utley’s side successfully arg ued that more time was needed to build a defense that included compiling a video compilation of slides that were more aggressive than Utley’s that went unpunished. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the appeal must occur within 14 days of the player receiving a suspension.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was outspoken that Utley received a raw deal on the suspension.

“I feel like MLB got maybe a little bit bullied into suspending him,” Kershaw sai d. “Never happened before. I’ve seen slides a lot worse.”

But commissioner Rob Manfred defended the suspension levied by MLB vice president of operations Joe Torre.

“The thought of Joe Torre being bullied by anyone is laughable,” Manfred said.

Manfred planned to meet with Mattingly and Mets manager Terry Collins before the game to ensure the focus was kept in the right place and there wouldn’t be a beanball circus. Neither manager expected the umpires to issue a formal warning to the teams.

Mattingly gave Howie Kendrick the start at second base, despite the fact Utley was 6-for-18 (. 333) lifetime against Harvey. Kendrick was 1-for-6. Utley hit his head on Tejada’s knee on the late slide that broke the shortstop’s right f ibula, but Mattingly said his player did not incur a concussion.

“I think [Utley] is doing OK,” Mattingly said. “As far as concussion protocol and all that kind of stuff and really just a decision, we thought that Howie has been swinging the bat good, and feel like he gives us the best chance to win today.”

Harvey made a veiled threat to the Dodgers in comments Sunday to the media, but Collins said he spoke to his pitcher about keeping the situation in perspective.

“This is too big a game,” Collins said. “We need to not worry about retaliating. We need to worry about winning. The one thing you don’t need to do is get yourself in a situation to put yourself on the bad side.

“I understand everything that happened. As frustrated as we are, as upset as we are, we feel so bad for Ruben, but the one thing we can’t do is cost ourselves a game, and this particular game, because we’re angry. We can play angry, but we gotta play under control.”

Mattingly admitted Utley’s safety was a concern because of the “stir” that was created in the after- math of the takeout slide in Saturday’s seventh inning. The Dodgers won 5-2 after Utley was called safe on the play following a replay challenge.

“Chase has played a long time, played in big games,” Mattingly said. “That part of it, you don’t worry about him being ready for that. You worry about does all the other stuff get in there and make sure he is comfortable with MLB security. When those kind of things get talked about, you know you’re over the line.

“I just wanted to make sure he’s comfortable, his family is comfortable, that everybody is keeping this thing in perspective.”

Though the Mets weren’t happy with Utley’s slide, they belong to the same players’ union as the Dodgers veteran and want the situation handled correctly.

“Whatever your thoughts on Chase’s slide may be, this still needs to go through the process and let Major League Baseball handle it,” Daniel Murphy said. “I think what’s at discussion now along with the slide is the manner and the timely fashion at which that may be done. Could it be done quicker, because this is a short series, I think it is being discussed as well.”