Harvey, Garcia ready to start for Mets, Braves (Apr 06, 2017)
NEW YORK — A little over nine months ago, Matt Harvey was booed off the mound by upset portions of New York Mets fans for allowing six runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Miami Marlins.
Three days later, the Mets discovered the cause of Harvey’s significant struggles in his third full season — thoracic outlet syndrome. Harvey underwent surgery for the ailment, which is caused by a compression of the nerves and/or blood vessels somewhere between the neck and armpit.
Now, the Mets hope Harvey is fully recovered. The right-hander makes his first regular-season start since the procedure Thursday night in the rubber game of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.
Harvey won’t be making his debut in warm weather. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s and a possibility of rain.
“I think Matt’s ready to pitch in any condition right now,” Mets manager Terry Collins said Wednesday. “He just got better and better as the spring went along. To be honest, I’d like to get him out there tomorrow night. I think it’s real important that we get these guys in some kind of routine.”
Harvey was 4-10 with 4.86 ERA in 17 starts last season. In 2015 after returning from missing the previous season due to Tommy John surgery, he pitched 189 1/3 innings and 26 2/3 more during New York’s run to the World Series.
After the lengthy season, Harvey’s strikeout rate dipped to 7.38 per nine innings, hitters posted a .320 batting average against him and velocity in his four pitches dipped by over 1 mph.
Velocity was a topic during spring training when Harvey was 0-4 with a 5.89 ERA in five starts. He pitched…