As the 2015 season began, the Mets finally had reason to hope.  The main reason for that hope was Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey.  At that time, there was the hope the Mets would eventually get contributions from Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, but no one knew what, if anything, either could contribute in 2015.  No, the 2015 season was about deGrom and Harvey.

Seemingly out of nowhere, deGrom had a spectacular 2014 season that saw him win the Rookie of the Year Award.  Due to his performance, Terry Collins slated him ahead of Harvey in the rotation.  Throughout the 2015 season, deGrom justified that season going 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA and a 0.979 WHIP.  He would be the lone Mets All Star, and he would be the story of the All Star Game striking out three batters on 10 total pitches.  In the NLDS, he out-dueled both Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke to pitch the Mets into the NLCS.  During that season, deGrom established that he is as good as any pitcher in baseball including his teammate Matt Harvey.

In his first start of the 2015 season, Harvey declared he was back by shutting down the Nationals over six innings allowing only four hits and walking one while striking out nine.  Future MVP Bryce Harper would go hitless.  He defeated former first overall pick Stephen Strasburg.  That start set the tone for a season in which Harvey would go 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA and a 1.019 WHIP.  Harvey carried this greatness forward in the postseason.  In Game 5 of the World Series, Harvey showed the world why he’s a great pitcher.  He shut down the Royals over eight innings while striking out nine.  Once again, he gave Mets fans hope that the team could win the World Series.

The Mets need Harvey to give them hope again.

The Mets were absolutely bludgeoned last night with Noah Syndergaard on the mound.  After the game, Syndergaard denied rumors that he is dealing with a bone spur issue in his pitching elbow.  For his part, Steven Matz did not deny the issue.  The question surrounding him was not only whether he could make his start tomorrow, but also whether he needed surgery. On a day like last nigh, you tend to focus on all the negativity surrounding the the Mets.  The team is struggling offensively.  They feel hour games back of the Nationals and back to third place in the National League East.  There are questions abound about what is wrong with the Mets.

With a strong start tonight, Harvey can remind everyone what is right with the Mets.  Harvey has a chance to turn around the Mets season like he has turned around his own season.

Harvey’s 2016 season got off to a nightmare of a start.  In his first 11 starts, he was 3-7 with a gaudy 6.08 ERA and a 1.688 WHIP.  Batters were teeing off on him to the tune of a .330/.376/.525 batting line.  He was having difficulty striking anyone out.  Finally, the mechanical flaw was found and fixed.  In the five starts he made since fixing the mechanical flaw, Harvey has a 2.25 ERA and a 0.875 WHIP.  Opposing batters have only hit .205/.237/.286 in that stretch.  Simply put, Harvey is back.  It’s a good thing too because the Mets desperately need him.

The Mets need Harvey to go out there tonight and shut down the Nationals like he’s done throughout his career.  He needs to have a start like he did last April where he announces to the world that both Harvey and the Mets are back.  He needs to combine with deGrom and carry the Mets rotation and team like everyone knows they can.  As long as deGrom and Harvey pitch the way that they are capable, the Mets will have a legitimate shot at not only the postseason, but also another run to the World Series.

It’s time for Harvey to go out there tonight and remind everyone of that.

Editor’s Note: this was also published on metsmerizedonline.com