PHILADELPHIA — The Dented Knight can begin his winter hibernation.
Matt Harvey’s season started poorly and only worsened after he returned from the disabled list earlier this month. Whether he will be an effective pitcher again is anybody’s guess.
On Friday he turned in one last clunker, allowing 10 base runners over four innings in the Mets’ 6-2 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Harvey’s final line included four earned runs allowed on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Harvey even balked in a run in the third inning when the ball slipped from his hand while he was delivering a pitch.
“The positive is this nightmare of a season is over for me,” Harvey said. “I can look forward to a progressive offseason of getting everything back and making sure I am in good shape for spring training.”
Harvey, who spent 2 ½ months on the disabled list with a stress injury to his right scapula — after missing the second half of last season following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome — finished 2018 with a 6.70 ERA. It is the highest earned run average in franchise history (15 starts minimum).
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has indicated the arbitration-eligible Harvey will be tendered a contract for next season. But the Mets would be taking a gamble given that Harvey stands to make somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million next season.
On the flip side, the Mets do not want to risk watching Harvey rediscover his form pitching for another team.
“Payback next year is going to be fun for him,” manager Terry Collins said.
Jacob deGrom’s season is finished, one appearance earlier than he anticipated.
With the Mets ace bothered by a stomach ailment, a decision was reached Friday to skip his final turn, which had been scheduled for Saturday.
DeGrom finished 15-10 with a 3.53 ERA and pitched a career-high 201 ¹/₃ innings, as the only member of the Mets’ starting five in the rotation to avoid the disabled list this season.
“I’m not happy where the team ended up,” deGrom said. “You go out there and you pitch and you are pitching for the team. The other personal goals you want to meet and it’s a lot more fun to meet those when you are winning.”
Seth Lugo will start Saturday in deGrom’s spot.
The Mets and Phillies will play in the second MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., next Aug. 19. The game will be played at Historic Bowman Field and air on ESPN’s Sunday night baseball. The Mets and Phillies will attend Little League World Series games earlier in the day.
Noah Syndergaard will pitch Sunday, but will be limited to 25 pitches in his second appearance since returning from the disabled list. He was sidelined 4 ½ months with a torn right lat.
The Mets have 26 stolen bases in their last 34 games. In their first 126 games this season, the Mets had just 32 stolen bases.