The New York Mets entered 2015 with their sights set on contending in the NL East, but much of their hopes depended on the health of Matt Harvey's right arm.
Matt Harvey is as good as new, which is just what the Mets needed
Six starts into the season, it’s clear Matt Harvey is every bit the pitcher he was before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
After undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2013 campaign, Harvey sat out all of last season despite a clear desire to return the mound in September. To their credit, the Mets remained cautious with their prized right-hander, and their patience has been rewarded in the early going this season.
Through six starts, Harvey has been every bit as good as he was back in 2013 when he started the All-Star Game for the National League. The Mets, meanwhile, are the surprise leaders of their division thanks largely to a dominant starting rotation, with Harvey again showcasing top-of-the-rotation stuff. Prior to his injury, Harvey stood out for his elite velocity and a mix of three solid offspeed pitches that tormented opposing batters.
After over a year of rehabbing his elbow, Harvey’s repertoire hasn’t lost any of its effectiveness, and through 39⅔ innings, Harvey has the second-highest fastball velocity in all of baseball. That’s helped him strike out 38 batters, but perhaps more impressively, Harvey’s control hasn’t taken a hit. Pitchers often struggle with erratic command upon initially returning from Tommy John surgery, yet Harvey has walked just five hitters this season, helping him post a better strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.60) than he did back in 2013 (6.2).
Harvey’s mix of offspeed pitches is what truly sets him apart, however. The 26-year-old is dominating opposing hitters with his slider, curveball and changeup, all of which he mixes in with equal effectiveness. The righty’s slider has long been his go-to breaking ball (he’s given up just two singles on the offering all year), but Harvey’s also gone to his curveball with increasing success in 2015, yielding just a .118 batting average against with the pitch.
Indeed, Harvey’s ability to throw any of his offspeed offerings and get outs (while also featuring that high-90s fastball) gives him perhaps the best arsenal of pitches among any major league starter.
Harvey’s stuff also gives the Mets real hope of contending for that elusive playoff spot in 2015. The club’s hot start has turned preseason optimism into reality at Citi Field, and Harvey again looks like the pitcher who can make the Mets relevant again in the NL.
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