Morning Briefing: Matt Harvey Wants Another Chance

Good morning Mets fans!

Former Met Matt Harvey coming off leading Team Italy to the second round of the WBC told the New York Post that he’d like to keep pitching. “Obviously I’m not pumping mid-to-upper-90s anymore — at least not yet. Hopefully, the velo comes back. But if it doesn’t, I feel like I still know how to pitch and to get guys out,” Harvey said. “I’ve worked really hard on a different style of pitching. I feel good. Hopefully, the stuff comes back. But I can still pitch. The game is still about getting people out.”

The Mets lost 3-0 to the Nationals on Thursday in Kodai Senga’s return to the mound after missing a start with a sore right index finger. Outfielder Tim Locastro went 1-for-2 with a walk and his sixth stolen base of the spring.

Latest Mets News

The Mets got the bad news on Thursday that star closer Edwin Diaz needed surgery to repair his torn patellar tendon in his right knee and will likely miss all of the 2023 season. The team announced later in the day that Díaz already had the surgery and it was a success. He will begin the rehab process in a week.

Díaz tweeted out a thank you message to Mets fans for all the support he has received.

The Mets will not be on the hook to pay Díaz for the time he spends on the injured list with the knee surgery. Instead, it will be paid by insurance that covers injuries that take place during the World Baseball Classic.

Francisco Lindor leads Team Puerto Rico up against Team Mexico tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET. Marcus Stroman starts for Puerto Rico with Julio Urias starting for Mexico. The winner will take on Japan on March 20 in Miami.

Lindor talked to the media on Thursday about the injury to his Team Puerto Rico and Mets teammate in Díaz. “I understand how Mets fans are hurting. But while for so many people the regular season is what counts, playing in the WBC means just as much to all of us…It is the dream of every Puerto Rican ballplayer to wear Puerto Rico’s colors and to represent our country. And not only Puerto Ricans, but every player in the WBC considers being here the ultimate honor,” Lindor said.

Steve Cohen at the Tokyo Dome right now to watch Italy vs Japan in the WBC.

Photo by @yakitori_1222 pic.twitter.com/zreOmdBlh4

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 16, 2023

Mets owner Steve Cohen was in Japan to watch the Samurai Japan vs Team Italy in their World Baseball Classic match.

According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, MLB sent a memo to all teams stating that they will be looking to crack down on sticky stuff again that pitchers might be using.

Speaking of the WBC, Japan vs Korea reached 63 million viewers last week. For reference, the most watched World Series game ever was 54 million back in 1980.

The Athletic reports that veteran reliever Sergio Romo has signed a deal bringing him back to the San Francisco Giants.

Latest NL East News

The Washington Nationals got their own bad news on Thursday when they found out pitching prospect Cade Cavalli will need Tommy John surgery. The 2020 first-round pick was expected to start the season in the Nationals rotation.