New York Mets Matt Harvey wasn’t overpowering batters with his fastballs like he has in years past, but his velocity and control was impressive compared to last year’s spring training nightmare.
New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey did it again on Monday down in the Grapefruit League, continuing his stellar spring.
He pitched three scoreless innings against a Detroit Tigers lineup that included Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera.
Baby steps https://t.co/w7MhYMDsT6
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 6, 2018
Harvey was satisfied with his second outing of the year as he told Dan Martin the New York Post.
“It takes an entire team, an entire staff to be good,” Harvey said. “You don’t want to be the weak link in such a powerful rotation. That’s what keeps us going and pushing each other so hard. It’s nice to finally be a part of that and know I can be a solid piece of the rotation.”
Harvey had little issue pitching in the first inning, but when the second inning began, he did have some struggles getting through. He gave up a double to Derek Norris with one out before ending the inning by striking out Jason Krizan swinging with his first curveball of the game and of spring training.
.@MattHarvey33 gets a K to end the second inning on Monday pic.twitter.com/93XiY5k2c1
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) March 5, 2018
Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland helped Harvey settle down as they worked out what mechanical issues were causing the problems he had in the second inning.
“It felt good this week in the bullpen and I figured I’d break it out,” Harvey said of the pitch.
Harvey did hit 96 mph, but he consistently threw in the 91-93 mph range for the three innings he pitched. He was happy the Mets let him pitch the third inning, which he felt was the best of the three he threw on Monday.
“I felt better than the first two innings, usually, it’s the other way around. That’s definitely a good sign.” Harvey said of his 48-pitch performance in which he allowed two hits, a walk and struck out one. “I’m glad they let me back out there, I got more out of the outing, kind of hashing out my mechanics.”
Mets Manager Mickey Callaway liked what he saw of Harvey, saying “I thought he pitched with not his best stuff, and throughout the season, you’re gonna have a handful of those, maybe more,” Callaway said. “And if you can get through those, that’s huge. … We saw today he can still challenge guys and get outs.”
Next up for the New York Metropolitans will be a Tuesday afternoon affair in Port St. Lucie as they welcome in the defending World Series champion Houston Astros. First pitch is slated for 1:10 p.m. ET.
