Matt Harvey not interested in bullpen move: 'I'm a starting pitcher'

Matt Harvey's fall from grace could land him in the New York Mets' bullpen, but the Dark Knight doesn't appear ready to make such a move.

Following another bad outing Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, manager Mickey Callaway told reporters, including Mike Puma of the New York Post, that it hadn't been decided if Harvey would make his next start. The right-hander, however, wasn't entertaining the idea of being demoted to the 'pen.

"I'm a starting pitcher, I've always been a starting pitcher," Harvey said, per MLB.com's Anthony Dicomo, while explaining he has been moving in the right direction and feels worthy of a starting spot.

The 29-year-old went on to mention that he had not spoken with Callaway about any making any changes. When the idea of working things out in the minors was brought up, Harvey said he couldn't "answer that question right now."

Thursday's outing against Atlanta was Harvey's worst of the season (six earned runs on eight hits across six innings) and the third consecutive start in which he's allowed four or more earned runs.

Harvey, who's undergone Tommy John and thoracic outlet syndrome surgeries, hasn't looked like the Cy Young candidate from earlier in his career over the past three seasons.

Since 2016, he's won just nine games in 40 appearances while pitching 206 1/3 innings. His hits-per-nine has also exceeded 10 in each season during that time frame.