Sandy Alderson told reporters before Saturday’s game that the decision to skip his start yesterday was based largely on reducing his workload.
“He would pitch in the All-Star Game whether he pitched today or not,” the Mets’ GM said. “That wasn’t the reason we made the decision. We made the decision on his projected workload over the course of the season. His blister was a factor and the ability for him to pitch a side (session) and get ready to come in and open the second half strong.”
Harvey has tossed 130 innings this season and was on pace for 249 innings. Considering he pitched a combined 169 innings between the majors and minors last season, increasing his workload by 80 innings would have been sheer insanity for the 24-year old righthander.
Harvey has averaged more than 6.2 innings per start and will be capped somewhere between 200-210 innings in 2013, according to Alderson.
The undisputed ace of the team, Harvey is 7-2 with a 2.35 ERA and a 0.915 WHIP. He’s racked up 147 strikeouts while walking only 28 batters this season.
The starting pitcher for the National League has yet to be announced by manager Bruce Bochy. But Harvey’s main competition, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, gave Bochy the all-clear on picking Matt Harvey.
“Harvey should start,” Kershaw told FOX Sports “There’s no reason, especially if it’s in New York, that he shouldn’t start. That’s what the fans will want. I’ve got no problem with that.”
Kershaw is 8-6 on the season, but leads the National League with in ERA (1.98), WHIP (0.908), ERA+ (181), and shutouts (2).
Classy move by Kershaw… Now the next move belongs to Bochy…
