The New York Mets are not sure whether or not Matt Harvey will be able to start their Opening Day game against the Kansas City Royals next Sunday. The team did not disclose any details of the reason why, but stated the right-hander was scratched from his final Spring Training start on Tuesday due to a "non-baseball medical issue."
The key phrase that likely allowed all of Queens to sigh in relief was that Harvey's mysterious ailment was completely unrelated to his throwing arm. Harvey may have to go to New York on Tuesday after he sees a "non-orthopedic doctor" (translation: a doctor that is not Dr. James Andrews).
Fortunately for Harvey, the elbow Dr. Andrews repaired with Tommy John Surgery seems to be just fine. Harvey was slated to throw his final spring tune-up Tuesday, though the team confirmed he did not travel to Jupiter, Fla. to play the St. Louis Cardinals.
Harvey may have to travel to New York for additional testing on Tuesday pending the results of his visit to the doctor. The Mets named Harvey their Opening Day starter to allow Jacob deGrom to take off at a moment's notice because his pregnant wife is due to deliver during their opening series.
But the details of Harvey's ailment are still highly mysterious and Mets manager Terry Collins indicated he was "not at liberty" not disclose anything about the pitcher's ailment. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson only said the team's doctors said Harvey had a "symptom."
"It's way too premature for us to discuss anything related to Opening Day," Alderson said. "I understand Opening Day is not too far away, but we're dealing with tomorrow, and we should know something more tomorrow or the next day.
"If he had to have a wisdom tooth pulled, he wouldn't pitch tomorrow. So let's not jump to conclusions here."
Collins also seemed to stress that the team is not treating Harvey's ailment as being serious and alluded to his deep pitching rotation that will allow him to slide someone else into the top spot. With Opening Day six days away, it is conceivable that whoever pitches Tuesday is likely to start on Sunday.
After two solid outings this spring, Harvey was roughed up for six runs on seven hits over three innings against the Astros on Thursday. Harvey's surgically repaired elbow has given him no problems this spring and he has maintained that his arm feels as good as ever.
