As if his highly anticipated major-league debut tonight in Arizona wasn’t stressful enough, Matt Harvey will also have to deal with the Mets having dropped six straight and free-falling out of playoff contention.
Not exactly the ideal circumstances.
“I want to avoid that if I can, but it is what it is,” Terry Collins said before the Mets lost 5-2 to the Nationals yesterday. “He’s just going to have to realize there’s lots of things that come with pitching in the big leagues and one of them may be to stop a losing streak.”
Harvey, who will face Arizona’s Wade Miley, will get his chance immediately and Collins believes the 23-year-old right-hander is up to the task.
“When you talk to him, he’s got the makeup,” Collins said. “He doesn’t want to be just ‘a guy.’ He wants to be ‘the guy.’ He’s got a good approach.”
He’ll be tested tonight.
“I told him to do what you’ve been doing,” Collins said. “It’s the same game. Make pitches. There’s not much more to say.”
Rob Johnson, who has caught Harvey before, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo after yesterday’s game and will likely catch tonight. Mike Nickeas was optioned to Buffalo.
* With the way the Mets have been playing since the All-Star break, they may not even need a closer the rest of the season, but Frank Francisco didn’t appear to be ready to help their cause after failing to last an inning in a rehab outing for Double-A Binghamton.
Francisco, who has been out since June 22 with a strained oblique, as well as a sore right knee, gave up three hits, a run and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning yesterday in New Britain. He threw 14 strikes in his 24-pitch outing.
* Collins expects Johan Santana (right ankle sprain) to continue long-tossing while the Mets are on the road and to be working off a mound by the middle of next week.
If all goes well, according to the manager, the lefty could make his first start on Aug. 8 or 9. Collins also believes Mike Baxter (dislocated right collarbone) may return by the time the Mets get to San Francisco on Monday.
“I’d like to see him more in the outfield to see how his arm is doing,” Co* lins said. “He’s swinging the bat pretty good.”
* Jason Bay didn’t play against right-hander Stephen Strasburg, but is confident he will be in the lineup against most righties on the upcoming road trip after meeting with Collins.
“That’s what we talked about,” said Bay, who has continued to struggle since returning from the disabled list. “I don’t have any excuse for the way I’m hitting, but I do think it would help to get more consistent at- bats.”