Dan Warthen on Matt Harvey criticizing himself: ‘I like it’

ATLANTA — Matt Harvey broke from his own script last week when he made public his bubbling frustration with himself, calling his last start against the Cubs “terrible.”

It was a radical departure for the righthander, and it was welcomed by Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen.

“I like it,” Warthen said on the eve of Harvey’s start against the Marlins on Monday night. “I want him to push himself to be better, work harder, think harder, his concentration, his focus.”

Harvey has a 12.19 ERA in three starts since coming off the disabled list with a stress injury in his right shoulder, fallout from offseason surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

Harvey allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 1⁄3 innings against the Cubs on Wednesday, prompting his self-evaluation after the game, but Warthen noted encouraging signs.

“At least the things we’ve been working on are starting to show up,” he said. “You’re starting to see his velocity, his natural arm action, that’s all starting to get there. I think we’re getting incrementally where we want to be. But he’s got to get the frustration part out, not try so hard.”

Extra bases

The Mets intend to keep their plans for Noah Syndergaard’s return under wraps. “If we have something scheduled and we have to change it because he doesn’t feel good, we don’t want it to be a major setback,” Terry Collins said. The righthander is nearing his first game action since tearing his lat in April . . .Jose Reyes’ first-inning triple moved him past Darryl Strawberry for second in extra-base hits in franchise history with 470. David Wright leads with 658 . . . AJ Ramos allowed a hit and a walk in 23 pitches in a scoreless ninth. He allowed two runs and threw 31 pitches Saturday, his first action since Sept. 8 because save chances have been sparse. Said Collins: “It’s been tough to get him in there and you’ve seen the rust.”