Mets right-hander Matt Harvey opened the season with five scoreless innings of one-hit ball back on April 3, but the former ace hasn’t fared nearly as well in two starts since then. Harvey yielded four earned runs in five frames in each of those outings – including in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday – and now there’s some question as to whether he’s a lock to remain in the team’s rotation throughout the season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. While Harvey’s spot isn’t yet “in peril,” per Sherman, the Mets will have a decision to make soon between him and fellow righty Zack Wheeler when left-hander Jason Vargas returns from the disabled list. That’s assuming Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz stay healthy, of course, and that Wheeler continues to perform well after enjoying a seven-inning, two-hit, one-run season debut against the Marlins earlier this week.
Here’s more from the National League…
- Dodgers infielder Logan Forsythe exited the team’s game Saturday with right shoulder discomfort and subsequently underwent an MRI, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Results should come Sunday, Gurnick adds; if Forsythe does require a stint on the disabled list, the Dodgers will divide third base among Enrique Hernandez, Kyle Farmer and a minor league call-up, manager Dave Roberts suggested. Primarily a second baseman, Forsythe has only been manning the hot corner this year because of an injury to starter Justin Turner, who suffered a broken left wrist last month. Forsythe has gotten off to a rough start filling in for Turner, having batted .174/.224/.283 in 49 plate appearances.
- Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy will begin extended spring training action Monday, manager Davey Martinez told Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com and other reporters Sunday (Twitter links). Martinez noted that the Nats aren’t going to rush Murphy, who’s working back from offseason surgery on his right knee. Meanwhile, third baseman Anthony Rendon is unlikely to require a DL stint, Martinez revealed. Rendon’s dealing with a sore left big toe that kept him out of the lineup Saturday. He’ll rest again Sunday.
- Braves left-hander Luiz Gohara, out since early March with a sprained ankle, will begin a Triple-A rehab assignment Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com writes. Gohara will make at least four starts in the minors, according to Bowman, putting him on track to return sometime in May. Had Gohara been healthy during spring training, the 21-year-old would have stood a strong chance to open the season in Atlanta’s rotation. Instead, the Braves have had to turn to veteran Anibal Sanchez, who has delivered positive results in three appearances/two starts (1.29 ERA, 9.0 K/9, 3.86 BB/9 over 14 innings).
Harvey should move to the bullpen. He always comes out blowing 95 and by second inning he’s down to 91. I think he has a shot to be successful in the pen, his career as a starter is over unless he makes a LOT of changes/adjustments.
Couldn’t agree more!! Could see a similar career as wade davis or Jason Izzy.
I agree,but his ego will be too much to make it work
“ . . . his ego will be too much to make it work.”
It isn’t just ego, met man. Starters are better paid than relievers. Which will shortly be of great import to Mr. Harvey. He has a clear financial motive for wanting to part of the rotation. Can’t blame him for that.
Sure, but if this past free agency saw anything, it’s that a lot of money was sacrificed because of talented players’ egos.
Lighting a candle for my boy, Mous, on how much money he squandered.
And also relievers got paid
If he can actually be a good reliever then good relievers get paid more than bad starters
Exactly right. Tommy hunter is playing for 9 million this season. Jaime Garcia is making 8. Is Matt Harvey’s any better than Jaime Garcia now? Don’t think so.
Harvey ain’t getting big money four four runs per five innings joe less
Too early in the season for this type of talk, Vargas will start when he returns, Wheeler will go to the minors. Harvey will start at least through the end of June. One thing for sure is this team will only go as far as the starting pitching takes them.
Why would Wheeler go back to the minors if he can pitch like his last game? Granted that’s a pretty big if, but still he may well be a better option than Harvey.
It was against the marlins. Let’s see wheeler v a big league team first.
Harvey’s fastball lacks movement. Simple as that. MLB hitters will continue peppering him as a starter OR reliever unless he can fix this problem.
According to the charts, his fastball has plenty of armside run. But he is hanging way more sliders than he did when he was good. And he’s always grooved a ton of fastballs, but he just doesn’t throw hard enough to get it by people consistently. He hasn’t figured out how to pitch without being able to blow it by people.