Transition from Yankees to Marlins won't change Matt Harvey's approach
Mets' Matt Harvey pitches in the first inning against the Yankees at Citi Field. (May 28, 2013) Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams, Jr.
The last time Matt Harvey took the mound, against the Yankees last week, the eyes of New York were focused on him. Even Mets great Dwight Gooden sat in the stands and delivered his own real-time scouting report of the phenom.
There was no shortage of attention. "He thrives on it,'' Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen said. "He thrives on attention. He loves that limelight.''
By comparison, Harvey's start on Sunday against the horrendous Marlins will carry none of that hype. Nevertheless, he said Saturdaythat his approach will remain unchanged.
"Every start, I'm going out there no matter if we're on a losing streak or a winning streak, it's my job to go out there and go as long as I can,'' he said. "In my mind, that's putting up zeros.''
Harvey has been dominant. He leads all qualifying starters in baseball with the fewest hits per nine innings (5.42), the lowest opponents' batting average (.172) and the lowest walks and hits per innings pitched (0.82). He enters this start with a 1.85 ERA and a 5-0 record.
"He's been in every game he's pitched,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. "If we scored him some runs, he'd be 9-0.''
Harvey allowed one run and struck out 10 in eight innings against the Yankees. It was his third double-digit strikeout game of the season, tops in the National League. He has five such games in his first 21 career starts. Gooden is the only Mets pitcher to have more double-digit strikeout games (eight) in his first 21 games with the team.
Of course, Gooden likely will not be in attendance Sunday afternoon. And with Harvey facing a Marlins team on pace to lose 119 games, Sunday's matchup hardly inspires the hype that comes with a Subway Series matchup.
"He will make it that way,'' Warthen said. "He will find a way to make it a Yankee game. He will find a way to make it whatever. He makes every at-bat a one-on-one competition.''
Said Harvey: "I play a game within the game. Each hitter is a game. I don't want to get beat by any hitter. That's how I take it.''
