NEW YORK (AP) The New York Mets scratched Matt Harvey for his scheduled start Sunday against the Miami Marlins and suspended the right-hander three days for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
General manager Sandy Alderson announced the suspension in a brief statement before the game, saying that Harvey had been sent home but declining further comment. The team said the suspension was effective Saturday.
”We are going to keep it in house, the way it’s supposed to be,” manager Terry Collins said. ”We hope to put it behind us and move forward.”
Left-hander Adam Wilk was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas to start in Harvey’s place. The three-day suspension removes Harvey from the 25-man roster. The Mets transferred Noah Syndergaard to the 60-day disabled list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Wilk.
Collins indicated that he was aware that a suspension could be on the horizon for Harvey.
”There were some moves made last night because we felt this might occur,” he said.
In his first season after having a rib removed to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, the 28-year-old Harvey has struggled to a 2-2 record with a 5.14 ERA over 35 innings. Harvey is coming off two of the worst starts of his career, allowing 12 runs over 9 2/3 innings with eight walks in a pair of losses to Atlanta.
He missed the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Harvey’s best season was in 2015, when he went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA. But that year, in his first postseason, he missed a mandatory workout the day before the NL East champion Mets traveled to Los Angeles for their playoff opener against the Dodgers. He apologized for his late arrival, for which he was fined. Harvey offered no public explanation for his tardiness, saying he simply ”screwed up.”
Harvey’s suspension is the latest blow for the Mets, who have been plagued with injuries this season. New York is missing ace right-hander Syndergaard (latissimus dorsi), outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring), first baseman Lucas Duda (elbow), catcher Travis d’Arnaud (wrist), left-hander Steven Matz (elbow), right-hander Seth Lugo (elbow), third baseman David Wright (recovery from neck surgery) and outfielder Brandon Nimmo (hamstring). Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Saturday’s game with an injured left thumb.
The team already has dealt with several public relations issues this season. Syndergaard initially missed a start with what the Mets said was biceps and shoulder discomfort and then made his next start against Washington after refusing to undergo an MRI. He was removed with the lat injury after only 11 batters. Syndergaard issued an apology Saturday to Mets public relations director Jay Horowitz and to members of the media for an outburst on April 27.
Backup catcher Kevin Plawecki was at the center of a controversy Friday when a sex toy could be viewed in his locker in a photo the Mets tweeted of T.J. Rivera wearing the star-of-the-game crown after New York’s come-from-behind victory.
Collins had a closed-door meeting with the team to address the situation, which Plawecki described as a prank.
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