Terry Collins: Mets likely to return to 'more traditional' rotation

PHOENIX -- The New York Mets' formal six-man rotation plan did not last long.

Manager Terry Collins said before Friday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks that he likely will revert to a "more traditional" rotation. Collins declined to elaborate, but a team official told ESPN.com that it involves a veteran -- either Dillon Gee or Jonathon Niese -- being skipped next turn and potentially being used out of the bullpen.

Niese pitched Friday night in the Mets' 7-2 loss to the D-backs. He gave up six hits and three earned runs with eight strikeouts and a walk in six innings.

However, Collins had said before the game that he already knew his plan and that Niese was not pitching for his starting job against Arizona.

Gee said he had not yet been informed of anything.

The Mets have a day off Monday and have been hesitant to give their starters two extra days of rest between starts, which would be the case with a formal six-man rotation.

The Mets had just moved to a six-man rotation Wednesday, with Gee having returned from the disabled list. The goal was to shave innings off Matt Harvey as he returns from Tommy John surgery as well as reduce the workloads of young starters Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

The manager acknowledged that innings would now have to be conserved through some other means with the Mets going to a "more traditional" rotation.