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Mets News: Matt Harvey To Remain In Starting Rotation

By Kenneth Teape

May 24, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) pitches during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) pitches during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Mets News: Matt Harvey will make his next scheduled start Monday against the Chicago White Sox despite another poor start Tuesday evening.

New York Mets news once again revolves around Matt Harvey, as his struggles have become the main focus of the team. After yet another poor start Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, the question once again arose about what to do with Harvey.

Harvey talked his way into the starting rotation after arguably his worst career start last week against the same Nationals team. He allowed nine runs, six earned, in 2 2/3 innings, but made his scheduled start against them on Tuesday. It was much of the same, as the Nationals hit Harvey hard to give the Mets their only defeat of the three-game series.

There were whispers of Harvey being demoted following the first bad start against the Nationals, but he was able to talk himself out of that. The whispers will only become louder with another poor start, but the Mets will hold off on that drastic measure, or any changes at all for the time being, as Harvey will remain in the rotation.

The Mets had a round table Wednesday afternoon between Harvey, manager Terry Collins, pitching coach Dan Warthen, assistant general manager John Ricco and general manager Sandy Alderson through speakerphone. They discussed what to do with Harvey, and ultimately decided on him making his next scheduled start Monday against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field.

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There were a number of options discussed such as putting Harvey on the disabled list, simply skipping his next start or demoting him. None of that will happen, at least for now.

“We believe the best way to get him back is to have him keep pitching and keep making progress and stay up here in the big leagues,” Ricco said.

“This guy is too big a piece to write him off, to flip him in the bullpen to where you’ve got to pick and choose when you might use him,” Collins said.

The biggest problem for Harvey thus far this season is to maintain throughout a start. Harvey hasn’t run into as much trouble early in the game, but he seems to wear down by the fourth and fifth inning. Collins attributes this to the work he does between starts, saying Harvey may be doing too much on his off days.

“This guy has thrown 200 pitches in five days,” Collins said. “So when he hit a wall in the fifth, I’m not surprised.”

That is something the Mets need to address, as they cannot continue allowing Harvey to take the mound performing like this. Harvey’s record stands at 3-7 on the season with a 6.08 ERA and 1.69 WHIP.

There is only so long the Mets can afford to trot Harvey out there before a change needs to be made if he is going to perform at that level. He is not even keeping the team in games when he takes the mound, as he has given up at least five runs in three consecutive starts, a streak everyone would like to see snapped on Monday.

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