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Mets NLDS notes: Juan Uribe out, Steven Matz bullpen session, Matt Harvey late

Juan Uribe hugs David Wright in happier times.
Juan Uribe hugs David Wright in happier times.
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES -- The Mets won't workout at Dodger Stadium until Thursday, but on Tuesday they held a mandatory workout at Citi Field in New York in preparation for the National League Division Series against the Dodgers, which starts Friday night.

The fact that Matt Harvey was late to the mandatory workout, as reported by Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, is not really news that is especially relevant to the series. But the bigger news Tuesday was that old friend Juan Uribe is out for the NLDS, and that pitcher Steve Matz might find his way to the mound to start Game 4.

Uribe dove for a ground ball at second base on Sept. 20 and injured his chest, then aggravated the injury five days later. He hasn't started since that Sept. 20 game and missed the Mets' final eight games altogether.

On Tuesday, New York general manager Sandy Alderson ruled Uribe out for the series, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:

The Mets have never given a specific diagnosis for Uribe's injury, saying only that it is a cartilage-based injury in the area where the clavicle meets his sternum. He will stay in New York to work with physical therapists while the Mets travel to Los Angeles. If all goes well, Uribe could eventually travel to Florida for rehab in instructional league games.

As for Matz, he had a back injury that scratched him from a start twice during the season's final week. The rookie left-hander has just six major league starts under his belt, but they were very good, going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA and a 22.8-percent strikeout rate. He last started on Sept. 24.

On Tuesday he threw a bullpen session, which give the Mets optimism Matz might start Game 4, if necessary, scheduled for next Tuesday in New York. Per Marc Carig of New York Newsday:

His next stop is Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he will pitch Thursday in an instructional league game. General manager Sandy Alderson is hopeful Matz can throw enough pitches in a simulated game to be ready for a start, potentially in Game 4.

"We hope about 90-85 pitches," Alderson said. "Based on how he does in Florida, we'll make a decision as to whether he's on the roster. And if so, at least a tentative decision as to what role he'll have in the Division Series."

If Matz doesn't start, it appears likely Bartolo Colon would, unless New York turns to Game 1 starter Jacob deGrom on three days rest. Either way, the Dodgers will be ready.

"You just prepare for what you think. I don't think you know what's going to happen for sure," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "You prepare for their roster and try to be ready for all scenarios."

"Our mix of guys is pretty balanced as it is so I don't think we would skew it that far because you always have matchups later in the game. Our objective is to have good balance both ways," general manager Farhan Zaidi said. "We're okay with facing a right-handed heavy staff, but certainly we want to be prepared for later game matchups."

As for the Mets, Rubin has an educated guess at what the Mets' 25-man NLDS roster might look like with Uribe out.

The bizarre day for Harvey was summed up nicely by manager Terry Collins, and transcribed by Carig: