As the 2015 season began, the Mets finally had reason to hope. The main reason for that was Jacob deGrom and the return of Matt Harvey. There was also the expectation that the Mets would also get contributions from prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, but no one knew what, if anything, either could contribute in 2015, it was all about deGrom and Harvey.
Seemingly out of nowhere, deGrom had a spectacular 2014 season that saw him win the Rookie of the Year Award. Due to his performance, Terry Collins slated him ahead of Harvey in the rotation. Throughout the 2015 season, deGrom justified his manager’s confidence by going 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA and a 0.979 WHIP. He would be the lone Mets All Star, and he would be the story of the All Star Game striking out three batters on 10 total pitches. In the NLDS, he out-dueled both Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke to pitch the Mets into the NLCS. During that season, deGrom established that he is as good as any pitcher in baseball including his teammate Matt Harvey.
In his first start of the 2015 season, Harvey declared he was back by shutting down the Nationals over six innings, allowing only four hits and walking one while striking out nine. Future MVP Bryce Harper would go hitless. He defeated former first overall pick Stephen Strasburg in a classic pitching duel. That start set the tone for a season in which Harvey would go 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA and a 1.019 WHIP. Harvey carried this greatness forward in the postseason. In Game 5 of the World Series, he showed the world why he’s a great pitcher. He shut down the Royals over eight innings while striking out nine. Once again, he gave Mets fans hope that the team could win the World Series.
Well here we are at almost the mid-point of the 2016 season, and what the Mets need more than anything else is a healthy dose of good news and some hope… The kind of hope that Harvey could provide again.
The Mets were absolutely bludgeoned last night with Noah Syndergaard on the mound. After the game, the young ace denied rumors that he is dealing with a bone spur issue in his pitching elbow. For his part, Steven Matz did not deny the issue. The question surrounding him was not only whether he could make his start tomorrow, but also whether he would need surgery.
On a night like that you tend to focus on all the negativity surrounding the Mets and the media had no problem fanning those flames. The team is struggling offensively. They fell four games back of the Nationals and into third place in the National League East. And questions abound about what is wrong with the Mets.
With a strong start tonight, Harvey can remind everyone about all that is right with the Mets. Harvey has a chance to make a strong statement and change the narrative.
After a turbulent start to this season, a mechanical flaw was found and fixed for Harvey, and in the five starts since, he has a 2.25 ERA and a 0.875 WHIP. Opposing batters have only hit .205/.237/.286 against him in that stretch. Simply put, Harvey is back. It’s a good thing too because the Mets desperately need him.
The Mets need Harvey to go out there tonight and shut down the Washington Nationals like he’s done throughout his career. Harvey can give the Mets the shot in the arm they so desperately need right now with a strong performance and a win.
