MLB Rumors: Matt Harvey Says He Will Pitch In The Playoffs For New York Mets

The last couple of days, New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey has taken a beating by the media and Mets fans because his agent, Scott Boras, expressed that Harvey is to pitch no more than 180 innings this season, including the playoffs. Harvey seemed to be in lockstep with with his agent when Boras said Harvey wouldn’t be available at the end of the season. MLB reported that he believed the Mets were treating Harvey like the Washington Nationals treated Stephen Strasburg is 2012.

“My assumption was that they were doing the Strasburg approach. Keep pitching him on his normal day, let him throw his innings. If he gets there and he’s healthy, great. But you may have to shut him down before the end of the season.”

Strasburg never pitched in the playoffs for the Nationals that season, and Washington got booted from the playoffs in the division series losing games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Things may have changed a bit on Sunday as Harvey took to The Player’s Tribune and wrote that he wants to pitch in the post-season.

“I am communicating with my agent, my doctor, Sandy and the entire Mets organization. I can assure everyone that we’re all on the same page. Together, we are coming up with a plan to reach an innings limit during the season. It will be a compromise between the doctors and the Mets organization to get me, and the team, to where we need to be for our postseason run. I understand the risks. I am also fully aware of the opportunity the Mets have this postseason. Winning the division and getting to the playoffs is our goal. Once we are there, I will be there.”

The Mets could surely use Harvey as he has been pretty hot as of late. Harvey struggled a bit in his last start, he allowed four earned runs to the Philadelphia Phillies, but he still has only allowed five earned runs in his last five ballgames. Even though the Mets could turn to guys like Steven Matz or Noah Syndergaard, Harvey has the second lowest earned run average on the staff and come playoff time a team needs all hands on deck.

The Mets need Matt Harvey, and as much Boras wants to protect his future huge payday, Harvey needs to pitch. The playoffs aren’t guaranteed to any team and when you have a shot at a World Series ring, you need to grab it. Haven’t we learned anything from the 2012 Nationals?

[Image by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]