Potential Players 6 19 13: Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler

There was Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. There was David Cone and Doc Gooden. There was even Steve Trachsel and Tom Glavine. Now for the Mets, the next duo is Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.

You’ve probably have heard about Matt Harvey. He’s been stellar this season, being 6-1 with a 2.1 ERA, and is leading the NL in strikeouts with 115, as well as having the lowest WHIP at .904. His SO/BB ratio is 5.00, which is really good, but he’ll never catch up to Cliff Lee’s historically high ratio, or Adam Wainwright’s absurd 11.11 ratio this year. He’s only 24 years old, and can fire a 100 mph fastball if need be. 

You could compare him to Greg Maddux or Tom Seaver, but that’s almost too much. How about comparing him to Kerry Wood, who struck out 20 while giving up 1 hit and no walks in his rookie season. Unlike Wood, however, Harvey also deviates with other pitches. He throws sliders, curves, and changeups at close to the same pace. His average fastball velocity is 95.4 mph this year.

Harvey isn’t the Randy Johnson or Nolan Ryan when it comes to striking out batters, but he does compare to Greg Maddux when he comes to fielding. In his two years in the Major Leagues, he has yet to make an error. His fielding percentage is 1.000, but that isn’t common for pitchers. Either way, Harvey has a 3.7 WAR, which doesn’t beat Clayton Kershaw’s 4.7, but is still very very good. 

Yesterday, Harvey struck out a career high 13 batters, having a no hitter going into the 7^th before surrendering 3 hits and 3 runs. The Mets beat the Braves 4-3, and Harvey got the win. He is slowly becoming one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues.

I don’t see Matt Harvey winning the Cy Young this year. He is no Kershaw or Wainwright. I think that he’ll finish with a sub ERA, but probably won’t get 15 wins since he’s on the Mets. Like I said, he’s 6-1. He’s had 8 no decision

He now has a good partner with him with the even younger Zack Wheeler. Wheeler is 23, and was drafted by Giants in the 2009 draft. He is ranked as the 11^th best prospect before this season. This year in AAA he went 4-2 with a 3.93 ERA, and made his first appearance last night in the doubleheader against the Braves. In his debut, he went 6 innings, surrendering 4 hits and walking 5, but giving up no runs while striking out 7. He would get the win, as the Mets swept the doubleheader, this time winning 6-1. Remember, this is the Braves: the 42-30 Braves who are tearing up the NL East division.

But Wheeler’s first start also gave him troubles. Like I said, he walked 5 in 6 innings. He threw his four-seam fastball just under 70% of the time. Only 55% of those fastballs went in the zone for a strike. He threw 28 breaking balls, only having 13 of them landing for strikes. He threw 2 changeups and 2 cutters, all 4 going for strikes.  He still was solid, but go lucky that he didn’t leave a hanging breaking ball to a guy like Justin Upton. 

His command needs to be better if he wants to be in the MLB. But I have no problem with him. His slider can get up to 91 mph, and his fastball at 98. He has the potential to be a solid tag team with Matt Harvey.

Due to a rule that allows callus to play for a game when it’s a double header, Wheeler was able to play, but now is back in the AAA’s. The Mets plan to call him back up later this season.

It’s highly unlikely that the Mets will reach the playoffs this year. In the next few years, however, they could make some solid moves to contend with the Braves and Nationals. They need hitting, but Harvey and Wheeler could easily lead the way.

Email me at statsbuddy42@gmail.com to give me your next potential player.

-Evan Boyd