Matt Harvey injury: Mets starter expected to miss several weeks with broken bone in shoulder

The Mets announced on Thursday afternoon that Matt Harvey will be out for several weeks with a stress injury to the scapula bone in his throwing shoulder. It was apparent that something was wrong on Wednesday night when the right-handed pitcher struggled to surpass 90 miles per hour with his fastball and was lifted after four innings during which he allowed three home runs.

The lack of velocity prompted New York to send Harvey to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Thursday morning for an examination. The tests revealed the shoulder injury, which the Mets want Harvey to rehab until he is pain-free. The process could take several weeks, during which the star pitcher will be on the disabled list.

Moving Harvey to the DL might not be a negative move for the Mets. They already have five healthy and capable starters who have been more effective than Harvey this year. It’s worth noting that both Steven Matz and Seth Lugo have made just one start each after each battling back from their own injuries, but both hurlers completed seven innings in their debuts, something that Harvey has done just once in 2017.

For the year, he has a 5.25 ERA and 1.45 WHIP despite a .252 BABIP against him. Hopefully Harvey will come back stronger after this rehab and give the Mets some more productive innings towards the end of the campaign.