New York Mets: How management should handle the rotation in 2017

2016 was a story of injuries for the Mets’ star-studded rotation. So how should management handle the staff for the upcoming season?

The New York Mets had a largely injury plagued 2016 season, but their All-Star rotation got hit by far the hardest.

Injuries befell names such as Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz. Even Zack Wheeler, who was expected to return last season, didn’t see any major league action due to setbacks in his second year of recovery from Tommy John surgery.

The Mets need to handle each pitcher with a certain degree of caution if they hope to get the most out of their potent power arms. Nothing would be more disappointing for fans of baseball as a whole than to see the efforts and talent of these great pitchers squandered because they were pushed too hard and too early.

So here’s an idea of how management should handle this pitching dilemma.

RHP Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom’s season didn’t end the way him or the Mets organization were hoping for. His season would come to a sudden end when it was announced that the 2015 All-Star would need surgery to repair an issue with the ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow.

While Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said it would not be a long term problem, the Mets still should proceed cautiously.

Even though his offseason surgery was a success and he’s on pace to be ready for Spring Training, here’s a layout of how manager Terry Collins can make sure they have their star pitcher for the entire 2017 season, and possibly even beyond.

deGrom shouldn’t throw more than 25 pitches in each of his Spring Training starts, using every outing as a small tune up to help build confidence and command heading into the regular season.

Once the calendar flips to April, the Mets should not limit his innings, but deGrom should skip a start every now and then just to give him a breather and keep his arm fresh. This should allow him to pitch a whole season healthy and be ready for the postseason if the Mets complete their believed manifest destiny.

LHP Steven Matz

Much like fellow rotation-mate deGrom, young lefty Steven Matz also had a heartbreaking end to his 2016 campaign.

Matz would require season-ending surgery to remove chips from his throwing elbow that was a problem for the majority of the season. The Mets believed the southpaw couldn’t pitch with the discomfort any longer, leading to his premature exodus.

Matz has had an injury plagued career to this point and the Mets need to be cautious with him in 2017 to break that trend.

The 25-year-old should be limited in Spring Training, as well as on a five inning leash in each of his first three starts of the regular season. The Mets should also consider putting an innings cap on his total season to ensure his long term success beyond just next year.

Another possibility is moving him to the bullpen towards September, in order to keep him fresh down the stretch while still being able to play a vital role towards the team’s success.

RHP Matt Harvey

Matt Harvey is a serious case due to the severity and longevity of his injury.

Harvey elected to have surgery to address his thoracic outlet syndrome that caused him great discomfort throughout 2016.

The Dark Knight has begun rehab and working on his command, but he’ll need to be watched very carefully this season to ensure he can repeat his 2015 performance coming off Tommy John.

In order to get the most out of their ace, the Mets should limit Harvey to 20-25 pitches per start in Spring Training. While he should not be on an innings cap overall, it would be wise to partially limit him to begin the regular season.

In his first 6 starts Harvey should not go more than five innings or 80 pitches, slowly allowing him time to regain velocity, command and his confidence that was once so high, but is likely diminished following last season.

It will be important for the righty to have a career year, not only for the Mets postseason hopes, but if they do decide to possibly trade him next offseason.

RHP Zack Wheeler

As for Zack Wheeler, he’ll need a lot of care due to the fact he has not pitched in the MLB in over two years. Wheeler was expected to return in 2016, but had multiple setbacks from Tommy John surgery, ultimately leading to his shutting down.

#45 was once highly praised as the Mets best young arm, and will look to prove doubters wrong by showing he is capable of being a high end talent in the majors again.

The Mets are hoping for the righty to be what they thought he would eventually become following a trade for him in return for Carlos Beltran. They’ll need to be very cautious with a guy who’s been out of the league for so long though.

Wheeler should throw two innings per start in his Spring Training campaign to allow him to gain command, velocity and a feel for throwing at a high level again.

As for the regular season, the Mets should let Wheeler pitch in the bullpen for a month or two, giving him a chance to get accustomed to Major League batters and to let him find his confidence again.

The righty should also be limited to no more than 180 total innings pitched so the Mets don’t make the same mistake they did with Mr. Harvey last season.