Matt Harvey improved to 4-0 with a 3.04 ERA after throwing 8 2/3 masterful innings at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
He has now thrown 26 2/3 innings over four starts, which would put him on pace to throw 233 1/3 innings over 35 starts this season.
The Mets have no intention of allowing that to happen, as a source told David Lennon of Newsday Harvey will make no more than 32 starts during the regular season.
Terry Collins has emphasized the importance of getting Harvey through the regular season since the start of Spring Training all while protecting him and his health. Should things continue to go as they have to start the year, they might need his services in October as well. So, they have to figure out how to get him there with both his best interests of and the best interests of the team in mind.
As such. they will begin to limit his appearances tomorrow night in Miami when Rafael Montero starts as a sixth man in their rotation against the Marlins.
That means, Harvey will next start on Friday night against the Nationals at Citi Field. It doesn’t seem likely the Mets will need the sixth man in the rotation the next time through, as they have two off-days around a short, two-game series against the Orioles next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Mets could then conceivably bring Harvey back on regular rest that Wednesday against Baltimore, which would then allow him another five full days of rest on his regular turn in the rotation, thanks to the off-day May 7. They could then insert a sixth man again in the rotation in one of the next times through, which could help give him a break again towards the end of May.
It’ll be interesting to see how they manage this, because there has to be a balance to rest him and ensure they’re putting their best foot forward. A lot could depend on how they’re doing during May, but also the health of others in the rotation.
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