Matt Harvey's Days Numbered?

Wow, that's all you can say at this point. There was once great hope for having Matt Harvey as the ace in the New York Mets starting rotation. He was, at one point, THE man for this pitching staff. But ever since the World Series run, he hasn't been quite the same. The way things are looking for Harvey right now, who knows how much longer he's gonna be in the starting rotation. Hell, who knows how much longer he's even going to be on the team.

Look back at 2013. Harvey went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA and started the all star game at Citi Field. He finished 4th in the Cy Young voting that season. Late in that season, it was revealed that Harvey had issues with his pitching arm and had to have Tommy John Surgery. After missing the entire 2014 season due to the surgery, he came back as a man on a mission. When the Mets made the march to the World Series, Harvey was a big reason for that. He finished that season 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA in 29 starts. He went way over his innings limit that the Mets had set for him. Something which I'm sure the team wasn't thrilled about. Ever since then, the Dark Knights numbers have gone way down.

He had an ERA of 6.70 in 19 starts last year. This year, he's had an ERA right 6 in the four starts he's had this season, going 0-2. He's gotten rocked in each of his starts this season, failing to go more then six innings in his first three starts. This last start, last night against Atlanta, he went six innings. IN doing so, he managed to give up six hits and six earned runs. Because of the way he has pitched to start the season, some have been raising questions as to what to do with the former Dark Knight. Keep him in the rotation? Move him to the bullpen? Maybe a stint on the DL?

Manager Mickey Callaway hasn't tipped his hand yet either as to what he wants to do for Harvey's next start, which is slated for Wednesday night in St Louis. It also will depend on the health of Jason Vargas and when he's ready to make his season debut for the Blue and Orange. They also have depth in the bullpen as both Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman have made starts for the team in the past. The only thing that could be of worry for the club is if they decide to switch out on of them to a starter and put Harvey in the Pen, that could pose a problem if one of the other starters gets hurt. Its a good problem to have if your the Mets to have this kind of pitching depth.

Its not so good to have one of the guys who was supposed to be an ace not pitching like one. Part of me still feels that this could be a lingering effect from being overworked in the World Series year, but that was three years ago.  Time is supposed to heal all wounds but this one I'm not sure about. I think the physical problems aren't there as far as his arm goes, I think now its a mental game.

Sure, he said in the interview post game that he still feels that he has what it takes and his position in the starting rotation is set. It's good to hear have that kind of conviction in his game, but I'm, not sure how the rest of the organization feels about it. Trading him wouldn't be the best option right now, his trade stock is low because of the way he's started this year. The best bet for him would be the pen. He can get confident in his game again by working on his stuff, till he can get hitters out with the same vigour he did earlier in his career. A stint in the pen could be just what the doctor ordered to help Harvey get back on his game.

Fact is, he's not really doing anybody any good pitching the way he has been the last couple of starts. Until he gets his game back again, to at least a suitable level, the pen looks like the best way to go for the Dark Knight!