Matt Harvey has been one of the top 5 pitchers in the Mets organization, yet he’s been in the minors. With Dillon Gee going down, the question becomes, ‘When will Matt Harvey get called up?‘
It’s a matter of talent, a matter of opportunity, and a matter of fantasy baseball relevance. First let’s talk about Harvey’s talent, then where he might fit in the New York rotation, and finally if he even will add any fantasy baseball value this season.
Early on, Harvey was pegged as more of a thrower than a pitcher. He can dial it up to 98, but that sometimes creates problems in throwing strikes. His off speed stuff is solid, but he doesn’t always have a quality breaking pitch to rely on however (Hmmm, should he focus on a curve or slider? Slider! But go ahead and get that TJ surgery out of the way). He’ll strike out some guys but won’t always be sharp. You can read other scouting reports on Matt Harvey here and here or catch a video here.
After R.A. Dickey, Johan Santana, and Jonathon Niese, you could could make the argument that Harvey is the next best Mets pitcher. Sure, Dillon Gee and Mike Pelphrey are on the shelf, but after those guys are the oft injured Chris Young and Miguel Bautista. Yawn. The opportunity to call up Harvey is there. He has the talent, even it might be a bit premature to showcase it. The worst thing that could happen is that he throws a stinker or two. The other options the Mets have could match that, plus throw in a couple extra earned runs for good measure.
If called up would Harvey thrive or just survive in the majors? Just survive. This isn’t good for fantasy baseball owners looking for the next great pitching prospect. Don’t jump on him if he does get the call. Take a cautious approach and see how his first couple outings go, and if he even sticks in The Show. If early signs look good then he might be a good candidate for spot starts against poor hitting teams. Think high K’s but also an ERA over 4.
