NEW YORK — Struggling pitcher Matt Harvey was placed on the disabled list Wednesday by the New York Mets because of right shoulder discomfort.

The team announced the move in a news release after reporters had left the clubhouse following New York's 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Harvey was put on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Tuesday. He was seen by team doctors and referred to Dr. Robert Thompson for further examination Thursday in St. Louis, the Mets said.

The former ace had been scheduled to start Saturday night at Citi Field against Max Scherzer and the NL East-leading Washington Nationals. It's uncertain who will pitch in his place.

To replace Harvey on the roster, the Mets recalled right-hander Seth Lugo from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Harvey is 4-10 in 17 starts with a 4.86 ERA — 78th among 97 qualifying pitchers in the major leagues. He has given up 111 hits in 92 2/3 innings, with 76 strikeouts and 24 walks.

The 27-year-old hasn't won since May 30, but he and the team had insisted all season he was healthy. The right-hander was tagged for six runs — five earned — and 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings Monday against Miami before the Mets rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win.

After missing the 2014 season following Tommy John surgery, Harvey went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA last year in 29 starts covering a career-high 189 1/3 innings.

Late in the season, agent Scott Boras said doctors recommended that Harvey be limited to approximately 180 innings in his first year back from reconstructive elbow surgery. At first, the star pitcher was noncommittal about going beyond that total — generating a firestorm in New York with the Mets in the middle of a playoff race.

Soon after, he announced he planned to pitch in October.

Harvey threw another 26 2/3 innings in the post-season, going 2-0 in four outings while helping the Mets to their first pennant in 15 years.

Harvey was working on a shutout in Game 5 of the World Series against Kansas City when he pushed to pitch the ninth inning and talked manager Terry Collins into it. Given a chance to go back out to the mound, Harvey faltered and the Royals rallied to win the championship.

Selected seventh overall by the Mets in the 2010 amateur draft out of North Carolina, Harvey blossomed into one of baseball's best pitchers three years later and started the 2013 All-Star Game on his home mound at Citi Field.