Mets ace Matt Harvey is coming off of a poor start, and manager Terry Collins may have the reason why.
“I have not talked to Matt yet, but it looks like he might be going through some of that dead arm stuff that sometimes happens. This might help him to have an extra day to get him back on track,” said Collins, according to the New York Daily News, referring to the team's off day Thursday. “He’s going to pitch Friday with five days rest, be ready to go.”
Here's how MLB.com describes "dead arm" in a 2009 story: "By most accounts, dead arm is an overall feeling of general, non-specific fatigue. It's expected to appear at some point before or during the season, and it has very recognizable symptoms."
Harvey gave up a career-worst seven runs on six hits over four innings in Saturday's loss against the Pirates. This is his first season after Tommy John surgery, so dead arm wouldn't be uncommon.
The Mets pitcher is 5-2 this season with a 2.91 ERA in nine starts.