Mets' Harvey confirms 180 innings his limit; mum on playoffs
New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey considers 180 innings pitched his limit for the season and won't talk about pitching in the playoffs.
The news comes as a shocker with the Mets currently leading the National League East by five games, and the Washington Nationals hot on their trail.
When asked Saturday if he'll pitch in the playoffs, Harvey declined comment, only saying he's focused on his next start against the Nationals on Tuesday and that he wouldn't put the ball down if the Mets want him to pitch.
"We've always been at war with 180 innings," he told reporters. "I really want to pitch but my arm feels like it's about to fall off. I never want to put the ball down."
The 26-year-old All-Star spoke with Dr. James Andrews, who confirmed 180 innings should be his limit for the year.
"I've been on the phone with Dr. Andrews and I've been on the phone with [Boras]," Harvey said. "What Dr. Andrews said is his limit is 180 [innings]. That's what Dr. Andrews had said. But for me, I have 166 innings and I don't know any much more than what I have to do Tuesday against the Nationals."
Harvey's agent Scott Boras challenged the Mets' handling of his client - who's already pitched 166 1/3 innings - just two years after having Tommy John surgery. Boras said Saturday that in disregarding expert medical opinion, the Mets are putting his client's health in jeopardy.
Harvey said he didn't want to be included in the debate between his team and his agent, but re-affirmed he hired Boras to protect his best interests.
"I hired Dr. Andrews to do my surgery and I hired Scott for a reason," he said. "To prolong my career and put me in the best possible position."
"Matt Harvey wants to pitch," the super agent told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. "We're trying to work out a plan the doctor approves of.
"This is the thing doctors are most scared about. Matt Harvey threw zero innings in 2014. He will be the only pitcher in history to go from 0 to 200 innings."
Boras met with the Mets prior to the season's start and compared the situation to one of his other clients, Stephen Strasburg, who had a similar issue with the Nationals in 2012.
"This is Strasburg," Boras said. "I can't give them a specific number. I brought up innings limits and they agreed.
"My assumption was that they were doing the Strasburg approach. Keep pitching him on his normal day. Let him know his innings. If he gets there and he's healthy, great. But you may have to shut him down before the end of the season."
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson will speak with Harvey in person Monday and then address the media.
Harvey is a crucial member of a formidable starting rotation, posting a 12-7 record with a 2.60 ERA across 25 starts.