Collins To Harvey, Who's Frustrated About Extra Rest: 'Get Over It'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Matt Harvey hasn't been Matt Harvey of late.
The Mets' right-hander struggled on Saturday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on seven hits in just five innings of work. The former All-Star struggled with his command, uncharacteristically walking five and striking out just four.
Harvey is now 7-6 -- his record is worse than it should be because he's received limited support -- and his ERA is 3.11.
Following the defeat, Harvey blamed some of his recent issues on the club's six-man rotation.
On Sunday, manager Terry Collins was blunt when he said that his star pitcher has to "get over it."
"They've got to," Collins said in regard to all of his pitchers. "Matt knows that. I know he's frustrated by it, and he and I have talked about it. But you've got to come up and be creative between starts. I certainly understand it. I certainly do understand it.
"He's a tremendous competitor and he wants to be out there as much as he can on a regular basis. I guess the easiest way for me to say it is, 'Matt, we'll go back to a five-man, but I hope you enjoy watching the rest of the season sitting on the bench in September when we need you.' So we've got to make the adjustment."
Harvey has been throwing only one bullpen session between starts. To find his rhythm with an extra day's rest, he'll throw two bullpen sessions before his next outing to see if it makes a difference.
Collins joked that if he wants to pitch more, he can pitch for the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones during the All-Star break.
"We've got to get him to figure it out," the manager said. "He just likes to play baseball. He likes to be out there. I totally, totally understand it."
