Getting shelled at Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday did nothing to hurt right-hander Matt Harvey’s chance to reach the majors. The Mets announced the prized prospect will make his big league debut when he starts Thursday in Arizona.
Harvey will join the Mets today and be activated tomorrow, the team said.
So take that feeble effort and bury it, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Harvey had heard all the speculation about moving on up and likely had that on the brain.
“Matt pitched [Saturday], didn’t pitch very good but he has been pitching good,” said Collins, calling Harvey’s effort, in which he threw 96 pitches and allowed six earned runs in five innings “one of those situations, Wally [Backman, the Buffalo manager] thought, where his mind was in New York and not necessarily in Buffalo, which I totally understand completely. … You’ve got to throw those starts out. Part of the whole thing is being here in New York where everything’s a story.”
Harvey will take the rotation spot of Miguel Batista, who was designated for assignment yesterday. Elvin Ramirez, who assumed Batista’s roster spot, threw one-third of an inning in relief in the Mets’ 8-3, 12-inning loss to the Dodgers.
Collins said Jeremy Hefner will replace Johan Santana, who went on the disabled list Saturday, in the rotation when he starts Wednesday against the Nationals.
“Hopefully [Batista] clears and decides to stay,” Collins said. “Miguel’s done a great job here. He’s a first-class guy, brings a lot to the party as far as his clubhouse presence.”
* This is Ramirez’s second tour with the Mets this season. He was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA covering five games and seven innings in June. He was 3-1 with two saves and a 1.99 ERA at Buffalo and Double-A Binghamton. Batista was 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 30 games, including five starts, this season.
* Frank Francisco threw a 40-pitch bullpen session prior to the game and will be re-evaluated today. Francisco, battling a strained left oblique, has not pitched since June 22.
“I feel really good,” said Francisco, who expects to receive a positive assessment today. “That’s what I expect. Now I’m going home for a good rest and sleep.”
He “played catch” on Friday, making about 25 tosses he said.
“Friday, I didn’t use all my pitches,” Francisco said. “Today, I use everything.”
And “if everything goes well” in today’s evaluation, “I’ll probably pitch again soon.”
* Daniel Murphy tied his career high with four hits for the second time in three days — he also had four hits Friday. In his last 20 games, Murphy is hitting .440 (33-of-75). … The Dodgers completed their first three-game sweep of the Mets in New York since August 2002.
* The Mets had six lefty hitters among eight position starters, including Jordany Valdespin hitting second and playing left, against Dodgers starter Nathan Eovaldi.
“A lot of times when you’re writing a lineup, a lot of people think you’re benching a guy and that’s not the case. Left-handed hitters hit .320 against this guy [Eovaldo]. So why not put out lefties in there?” Collins reasoned, noting in the first two games of the series, the Dodgers did not employ any lefty relief help.
That changed when lefty Scott Elbert replaced Eovaldi in the fifth. The Mets lefties were 6-of-12 against the no-decision Eovaldi, including a 2-of-3 by Valdespin. Eovaldi struck out seven.