The Mets will skip Matt Harvey's final start before the All-Star break, allowing him to pitch in next week's All-Star Game at Citi Field.
Terry Collins said the primary motivation is to keep Harvey's innings count in check while avoiding shutting him down at the end of the season.
"We've got to get this guy somehow deep into the summer, so we thought now would be the time to back him off," Collins said.
Harvey is 7-2 with a 2.35 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 130 innings this season.
Via Adam Rubin/ESPN