Matt Harvey

Mets manager Terry Collins has narrowed down the 5th starter's spot in the rotation to 2 people, Miguel Batista and Matt Harvey. The Mets won't need their 5th starter until Saturday because they have an off day Monday, which will allow them to go with a 4 man rotation this week. I really believe that Saturday should be and will be the start to a very long and successful career for Harvey with the Amazins. They have been waiting for him for a few years and is their #2 prospect. They anticipate that he will be an ace for them. He is already 23 years old and has been pitching very well for AAA Buffalo, going 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA this year, earning him a spot in the AAA all star game. He has been dominating AAA lately and is not learning anything pitching against minor league hitters that are far inferior to the major leaguers. Even if he struggles, Harvey needs to get experience in the majors, as he almost definitely will be in the rotation starting next season. Harvey will start Monday night for AAA Buffalo against Toledo, in a game that will be televised on SNY. Collins said that the team will have many team executives watching and if he is ready, he will be called up to start on Saturday against the Dodgers. The manager also added that while it's not in the consideration set for Zack Wheeler, who is the #1 prospect, to face Los Angeles next weekend, he very much should be on the radar next month for a promotion to the majors. "I've heard wonderful, wonderful things about him. Getting better, getting better, getting better. He's not out of the mix," Collins said about Wheeler. "I'm going to tell you something. Right now, in our organization, if you've got talent, and you show that you can get people out, your name is going to be on that list." Wheeler, who was acquired in the Carlos Beltran trade, is 8-4 with a 2.62 ERA at Double-A Binghamton this season, and he may be in line for a promotion to AAA soon. Wheeler is not as close as Harvey. I expect Harvey to start this Saturday while Wheeler is a little farther away. Either way, both of these guys are going to be aces for this Mets club for a very, very long time.