Baseball Daily Dose: Innings Limit For Matt Harvey?

Matt Harvey will definitely pitch in late September.

Probably.

We think.

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Harvey’s agent, Scott Boras, raised some concerns regarding the right-hander’s innings Friday, telling CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman that he would like to see the team follow doctor’s orders and shut Harvey down at 180 innings this season. Harvey has thrown 166 1/3 innings through 25 starts thus far.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said the team and Boras had a plan for how the club would use Harvey this season, a plan that included pitch count limits for individual games and a “soft” limit for total innings. Alderson said the plan included input from a doctor, something Boras disputed.

“This is not a club’s decision. This is a doctor’s decision,” Boras said of the 180-inning limit. “Any club that chooses to defy a surgeon’s wishes is putting the player in peril.”

The Mets reaffirmed their stance later Friday, but manager Terry Collins waffled Friday afternoon when asked whether Harvey would make his next scheduled start on Tuesday. The team has plans to skip at least one more turn in the rotation for Harvey, and the 26-year-old also dealt with dehydration and weakness during his start Wednesday. It’s unclear what of those reasons, if any, caused Collins to hesitate regarding Harvey’s next start.

Boras is looking out for Harvey’s, and in turn his own, best interests, but it’s hard to see the right-hander laying down so easily. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2013, Harvey was outspoken about his desire to return before the end of the 2014 season, less than a year after the procedure. With the Mets on the doorstep of the postseason for the first time in Harvey’s career, he’s not likely to bow out during a September stretch run.

Harvey will address the media Saturday. It will be worth noting what he — not anyone else — says about whether or not he’ll pitch in a potential playoff push.

Klubot Out For Repairs

Corey Kluber is another pitcher who may miss some time in September, but it’s his hamstring, not his elbow, that is cause for concern.

Kluber was scratched from his scheduled start Friday due to a previously unreported right hamstring strain. Josh Tomlin had his start bumped up a day to fill in for the injured Cy Young winner.

Not only did Kluber miss Friday’s turn, but Indians manager Terry Francona said the right-hander is expected to be out at least 10 days with the ailment.

“He’s going to be down for, I’d say, a minimum of 10 days,” Francona said. “Rather than put too much of a timetable on it, when he’s ready, we’ll pitch him. That’s kind of where we are there.”

Kluber reportedly felt the hamstring injury while throwing a side session between starts. The Indians do still have life in a crowded American League Wild Card race, but with their $38.5 million investment, they’re going to err on the side of caution.

Even so, the club said they do expect Kluber to pitch again this season. It’s just the when that is up in the air at this point.

Tomlin Twirls Masterpiece

Tomlin isn’t a former Cy Young Award winner, but he did his best Kluber impression Friday.

Tomlin, subbing for the injured Kluber, threw a four-hit, one-run complete game in a win over the Tigers on Friday. Tomlin walked one and gave up just one extra-base hit, a double, while striking out six in the effort.

“Oh, man. He was so good,” Francona said. “He changed speeds, pounded the strike zone with all his pitches, had a good curveball. He used his fastball really effectively. That was fun to watch.”

The day of the start was a bit unexpected for the 30-year-old, but then again, not much has been business as usual for the right-hander in 2015. Tomlin has been excellent through his first five starts of 2015, posting a 2.55 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 32/3 K/BB ratio over 35 1/3 innings.

The only complaint with Tomlin is that he wasn’t available to do it sooner. Tomlin had AC joint surgery on his right shoulder in April, a procedure that threatened his 2015 season altogether. He began rehabbing in early July and made seven minor league starts before being recalled in mid-August.

Tomlin’s early success has come largely on the back of a curveball that, while he isn’t throwing it any more than usual, he’s enjoying more success with it than he has over the course of his career. And despite the strong showing, peripherals suggest he hasn’t suddenly found something he didn’t have before — he had stranded 100 percent of the runners who had reached base against him through four starts, according to Fangraphs, and opponents were hitting .175 on balls in play prior to Friday.

That doesn’t change what he’s done to this point, though. And with Kluber still sidelined, the Indians hope he has a few more tricks up his sleeve yet.

National League Quick Hits: Kyle Schwarber was diagnosed with a right rib cage strain after injuring himself on a check swing Wednesday during batting practice. The catcher will miss 3-5 days before being re-evaluated … Matt Holliday (quad) began jogging on the outfield grass Friday. It was a positive step, albeit a small one, as he works back from a tear of his right quad … Billy Hamilton (shoulder) took batting practice Friday. Reds manager Bryan Price said Hamilton could go on a rehab assignment before the minor league season ends … Lucas Duda (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday. The Mets have surprisingly gotten along just fine without the first baseman, who is slowly recovering from a thoracic herniation in his back and could be back in a few days … not ready to give up on 2015, Josh Johnson (elbow) began a rehab assignment on Friday. The team is having him throw one inning at a time, suggesting he’ll return as a reliever if he makes it back this season … Daniel Murphy (quad) remained out of the Mets’ lineup on Friday. The injury is considered minor, but Murphy wasn’t even used as a pinch-hitter in Friday’s 11-inning loss … Justin Morneau (concussion) was activated from the disabled list and started at first base Friday. Morneau finished 1-for-4 in the game, but just getting back on the field was a victory for the veteran, whose career has been ruined by concussions … Brandon Crawford (calf) went hitless in four at-bats, striking out three times, upon his return to the lineup Friday … Andrew McCutchen (Achilles) enjoyed better results, finishing 2-for-4 with three runs scored in his return to the lineup … the Padres activated Wil Myers (wrist) from the 60-day disabled list. Myers started at first base in his first game back Friday.

American League Quick Hits: George Springer was activated from the disabled list and batted leadoff for the Astros on Friday. The outfielder, who missed two months with a fractured right wrist, went 1-for-4 with a run scored in his return … Carlos Carrasco (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Friday. Assuming he came out of it alright, he could rejoin the Indians’ rotation as early as Tuesday … Mark Teixeira (shin) finally succumbed to a 15-day disabled list stint. The Yanks placed Teixeira on the DL retroactive to August 27 with a right shin bone bruise, and it could still be a couple weeks before the first baseman is back in the lineup … contract talks between Dallas Keuchel and the Astros have been tabled until this winter, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Keuchel will be arbitration-eligible this offseason for the first time … Hanley Ramirez (shoulder) remained out Friday. The infielder-turned-outfielder has missed over a week’s worth of games due to fatigue in his right shoulder, and it’s unclear when he might be inserted back into the lineup … Miguel Sano (hamstring) went 1-for-4 in his return to the Twins’ lineup … Stephen Vogt was a late scratch Friday due to elbow soreness, but the catcher pinch-hit in the seventh inning and stayed in the game, a sign the ailment isn’t serious … CC Sabathia (knee) will be actived from the disabled list and will start Wednesday against the Orioles. Sabathia made it through a 60-pitch simulated game Friday, clearing the way for his return.

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