Team hoping Harvey can follow bullpen blueprint

ATLANTA — Rooted in the Mets’ decision to send Matt Harvey to the bullpen is a trust in manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland.

The two are among the top pitching experts in the sport, and both have used temporary bullpen stints as a way to get a struggling starter back on track.

“One of the reasons we brought in Mickey and Dave Eiland is their knowledge and expertise in this area. We have a lot of faith and confidence in what they’re able to do,” Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said Saturday. “We have a lot of confidence we can get Matt back to where he needs to be and this is the first step in that.”

Harvey’s demotion is not a permanent move, but he will have to embrace this new role. The shorter outings will allow him to focus on one batter at a time compared to concerning himself with setting opponents up for future meetings as a starter.

Harvey has made one relief appearance in his career, but it was to replace Noah Syndergaard after the righty pitched one inning to start a game last September. “What they do in the bullpen is develop this sense of closing every inning, getting an out at a time and making sure they go from there,” Callaway said before a 4-3 loss to Atlanta on Saturday. “If you can take that approach in the first inning, close that inning and take it in the second inning that builds momentum and they’re not worried about what is going to happen, five, six innings later, they can concentrate in the moment.”

Callaway used this tactic with Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar

John Bazemore / Associated Press Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey works against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning on Thursday in Atlanta. It was Harvey’s last start before moving to the bullpen.