DeGrom’s velocity improves

Jacob deGrom’s velocity came and went throughout Friday’s game, but the fact the scoreboard showed a handful of 95s and 96s early was an encouraging sign for the Mets righty.

“I had more swings and misses tonight than I had early on [this season] so that tells me I had late life,” deGrom said after the Mets beat the Dodgers 6-5 at Citi Field.

DeGrom lasted seven innings and allowed one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and three walks with a hit batter. He was in line for the victory until Jeurys Familia suffered a rare hiccup in the ninth and surrendered four runs to tie the game.

DeGrom’s fastball settled into the 92-93 mph range later in the game, continuing a drop-off he has experienced for much of the season.

“He didn’t have his good stuff tonight and had to battle hard to get out of three innings,” manager Terry Collins said. “But he just keeps pitching.”

DeGrom said he’s moving closer to his optimal level, but isn’t there yet.

“There’s still some work,” he said. “But this is a step in the right direction.”

➤ After floating the idea earlier this week Michael Conforto could be a firstbase option in Lucas Duda’s extended absence, Collins said the switch won’t happen.

“He is not a first baseman,” Collins said. “We are not here to take a kid who has never played first base at the major league level in a situation where we’re expected to win, a lot, and put an inexperienced guy in a tough position.

“As I’ve tried to gingerly say it, this isn’t high school, where you put the fat kid over at first. This is an athletic position and there’s a lot of things going on and right now Michael has got a lot on his plate, I don’t need to add more to it.”

Duda is expected to remain sidelined at least through the All-Star break with a stress fracture in his back.