Jacob deGrom (neck) pushed back to Saturday; Matt Harvey to start series opener vs. Nationals

New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start Friday because of neck stiffness and instead will pitch Saturday.

The Mets announced a series of injury-related moves Friday, including naming Matt Harvey as deGrom's replacement for their series opener against the Washington Nationals.

Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters that deGrom originally felt stiffness in his neck Thursday, prompting the team to prepare Harvey to pitch Friday. Collins also acknowledged that left-hander Sean Gilmartin, who was recalled from the minors earlier Friday, would start Saturday afternoon if deGrom was still unavailable.

DeGrom, however, said he should be "fine" to pitch Saturday.

"I think I just slept on it wrong," he said. "I've never had any problems with my neck. I woke up (Thursday) and had a hard time looking to my left."

Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes, who left Thursday's game with a hamstring injury, and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera both were out of the lineup Friday. Collins reiterated that he expected Cespedes to miss a few days while noting that Cabrera also has experienced hamstring soreness.

The Mets also placed first baseman Lucas Duda and infielder Wilmer Flores on the 10-day disabled list. Gilmartin and infielder T.J. Rivera were recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace Duda and Flores on the roster.

Duda has a hyperextended elbow while Flores is dealing with an infection in his knee.

Fox Sports was first to report on deGrom's injury earlier Friday. The right-hander tied a career high with 13 strikeouts in his last outing Saturday, when he pitched seven innings but threw just 97 pitches against the Miami Marlins.

Harvey originally was scheduled to pitch Saturday. His last start was Sunday in Miami, meaning the injury-plagued right-hander still will be pitching on his normal four days' rest Friday night at Citi Field.

DeGrom, 28, has been outstanding in his first three starts this year after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in September, posting a 1.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 19 innings.

ESPN's Mark Simon contributed to this report.