Mets to skip Matt Harvey’s next two scheduled starts, still available for All-Star Game
According to ESPN New York's Adam Rubin, the New York Mets will skip Matt Harvey's final scheduled start prior to the All-Star break on Saturday, and will also skip their young right-handers first scheduled start after the break. Carlos Torres will be fill in for both starts.
Rubin's report also cited the three reasons New York is giving for their decision to skip Harvey's next two turns.
1. To limit his season innings count.
Through 19 starts, he's currently sitting on 130 innings pitched. That's a pace that would take him beyond 200 innings over a full season. The Mets haven't seemed overly concerned about Harvey's workload leading up to this point, but obviously saving a few bullets in a rebuilding season makes sense.
2. To allow a blister to on his pitching hand to fully heal.
Naturally, Harvey has downplayed the blister following his past two starts, but it has clearly hampered him to some degree. In his last 13 innings, he's allowed eight earned runs, walked four and opponents are hitting .283 against him. Over his first 117 innings, opponents were hitting only .184 with 24 walks.
3. To position him to start Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citi Field.
National League manager Bruce Bochy has stated several times that Matt Harvey will be his selection if available. Mets skipper Terry Collins and his staff have worked to make that happen, and when factored with his workload and now the on-going blister issue, giving him an extra few days to recover and catch his breathe after what will surely be an emotional week sounds like a good approach as well.
The official announcement of Harvey's starting assignment won't come until Monday when Bochy reveals his lineup to the assembled media. Assuming that's his final decision, Harvey will be a very deserving selection. Not only has he been a workhorse for New York as noted above, he's also posted a 2.35 ERA and leads the National League in strikeouts with 147.
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