Matt Harvey pitched three innings in yesterday’s 8-5 loss to the Houston Astros, surrendering six runs on seven hits. Harvey also walked three while throwing 85 pitches in the penultimate tune-up to opening day of the 2016 season.
“Everything was a little out of whack mechanically,’’ Harvey said. “I have to go back and watch some film [Friday] and figure out what was going on. Every time I tried to execute a pitch, it was over the middle. It felt like every throw was a little different.” (NY Post)
Manager, Terry Collins seemed to be a bit surprised by the lack of control Harvey had shown on the day, especially with the fastball which he normally commands with ease.
“Today was a tough one. That’s the first time — at any time — he had that lack of command in his fastball. We’ll get him back,” Collins said. “This guy’s got as good command as anybody on the staff. When he gets behind in that many counts and throws that many balls, something’s out of whack.”
Harvey will have one more tune-up as he readies himself for Opening Night on April 3rd against the Kansas City Royals. In a normal start a pitcher may just use what works for them, but spring training is about feeling out your mechanics, and Harvey says he was doing just that.
“Today [was] more of a grind than I expected and would want,” said Harvey. “I should be able to fix that during the game, but spring training gives you time to feel for it and evaluate your mechanics rather than go after hitters.”
Harvey got some extra work in after he departed yesterday’s game to get his pitch count closer to the desired 100 mark. He will look to be stretched to more than 85 pitches in his final tune-up start, which is scheduled for Tuesday against the Miami Marlins.
