The MLB All-Star game is 10 days away, the voting for all-star starters is complete and home field advantage will soon be on the line. Now that the starting position players’ voting is over, the debate will turn to the starting pitchers for the game. There is only one man that should start for the National League—Matt Harvey.
When the 2013 season began Harvey was not the Opening Day starter for the New York Mets. That privilege was bestowed on left hander Jon Niese. However, Harvey quickly established himself as the best pitcher on the Mets’ staff.
Matt Harvey is tied for fifth in wins with seven other NL pitchers. However, he is first in the NL in a number of other categories:
WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched)—0.91
Strikeouts—141
Strikeouts per nine innings—10.32
Opponents on-base percentage—.240
Harvey is also in the NL top five in ERA (2.27), innings pitched (123) and batting average against (.194)
In addition to his stats Harvey brings some intangibles to his game. The North Carolina-product looks to dominate when he toes the rubber. Harvey has a fastball that can reach 100 mph at times and he uses it to blatantly challenge hitters—even in spots when they know it’s coming.
Harvey also has a demeanor on the mound which can make you forget it’s his first full season in the league. According to manager Terry Collins, Harvey is all business on game-day and extremely serious when he’s about to pitch.
In addition to how he helps himself, Harvey has also reportedly been a mentor for young prospect Zach Wheeler, who was recently called up and has made four big-league starts. The Mets hope Harvey and Wheeler will be a two-headed monster at the beginning of their rotation for years to come.
Harvey’s closest competition this season comes from Washington Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman (12-3, 2.46 ERA and 85 strikeouts), Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw (7-5, 1.93 ERA and 126 strikeouts), Arizona Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin (9-1, 2.49 ERA and 89 strikeouts) and St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (11-5, 2.36 ERA and 117 strikeouts.)
The Mets’ ace is much more dominant than Corbin and Zimmerman. Wainwright has a much better walks-to-strikeout ratio but not as many strikeouts and a lower WHIP. Kershaw is trailing Harvey in strikeouts by 15 and has a lower WHIP.
However, what’s the most important reason Harvey should start all-star game for the NL? It’s in Citi Field. It’s only right that he gets to shine where he has dominated the entire year.
*Disclaimer: Robert Christie is a Mets Fan
*Stats according to ESPN.com
