Did deGrom just make final 2014 start?

ATLANTA -- Terry Collins summoned Jacob deGrom into the visiting manager’s office at Turner Field after the Mets completed a sweep of the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

The subject: whether deGrom would pitch again this season.

The resolution: to be determined.

After limiting the Braves to two runs (one earned) and notching 10 strikeouts in six innings in an eventual 10-2 win, deGrom is sitting at 178 2/3 innings between the majors and minor this season. The Mets had targeted 180-185 innings, Collins reiterated postgame. And there’s a question about how much the club wants to push deGrom.

“We’ll regroup here in a couple of days and decide what we’re going to do with him as far as his next start goes,” Collins said. “… I think it’s got to be a discussion of workload. He’s real close to where we wanted him to get anyway on the season. We were talking from 180 to 185 was going to be max anyway. We’ll just see if he starts the next game.

“I know one thing: He walked in here and he said he wanted to pitch. He’s not sitting back saying, ‘OK, I’ll just shut her down.’ He wants to go back out there. That was impressive to hear. This time of year, in our situation, it would have been very easy for a lot of guys to say, ‘I’m done. I’m washed up.’ He’s not like that.”

Collins insisted the Mets were not leaning toward “no” for another start for deGrom, although Sandy Alderson did make it sound pregame like there was a good chance Rafael Montero instead would get the start the final weekend against the Houston Astros.

“It’s up in the air,” Collins maintained.

DeGrom’s NL Rookie of the Year credentials look formidable.

He improved to 9-6 with a 2.63 ERA in 22 starts at the major league level.

Collins said there is no doubt in his mind deGrom is the Rookie of the Year.

“What he’s done, it is truly remarkable,” the manager said. “I’ll tell you, we’re lucky. We’ve got the other kid down there [Jeurys Familia], who has been in 75 games, too -- second in the league in appearances and got an ERA under 2.00. He’s a legit guy. And I understand what a year Billy [Hamilton] has had and what a year Kolten Wong has had. But I don’t know if they’re as good as what my guy has done.”

DeGrom’s fastball velocity matched a season low, averaging 92.3 mph Sunday, but the rookie suggested that was a conscious decision.

“I think I was just trying to stay within myself early on, and then if I needed to, try to throw it by somebody with a little more on it,” deGrom said. “I was actually trying to do that consciously. That was the game plan.”

Meanwhile, deGrom said he wanted another start and did not want to rest on his laurels.

“Why not?” said deGrom, who was required to where a “Pretty Patriot” outfit after the game for the trip to D.C. as part of a rookie hazing ritual. “I would like to get to the 185 [innings], so there’s no limit next year really. I can get to that 200 mark with no problem next year.”

Coming off a start in which he matched the modern MLB record by opening a game with eight straight strikeouts, deGrom fanned the first four this time, until Chris Johnson flied out to right field.

“The thought kind of ran through my head about trying to get nine, but whenever Chris put one in play, then it was over with,” deGrom said.

Said Collins: “‘Here we go again’ is what I was thinking.”