The Mets have a young, deep rotation and they might need to dig into that depth earlier than expected.
Matt Harvey didn't make a trip with the team to Jupiter, Fla. on Monday because he went to see a "non-orthopedic" doctor for an ailment that is unrelated to his surgically-repaired elbow.
The entire Mets team was brought on the trip, a tradition implemented by captain David Wright for the final week of spring training, but Harvey was the lone player missing.
The undisclosed medical issue has made him questionable for Opening Day, according to a tweet by ESPN reporter Adam Rubin:
"[Mets GM] Sandy Alderson said Matt Harvey may have to go to New York for further examination," the full tweet reads. "He will not pitch the remainder of exhibition season, but Opening Day not yet ruled out yet. Alderson said Harvey experienced a symptom which prompted medical attention. The GM declined to reveal any specifics. However, the Mets say it's not orthopedic (related to an elbow, shoulder, etc.)."
The right-hander was set to make his final spring start on Tuesday, but he now obviously will be scratched. Harvey was also set to take the mound on Opening Night this Sunday when the Mets face the Royals in a World Series rematch to open the 2016 slate for the MLB.
Mets manager Terry Collins said on Monday that it's "hard to say about Opening Day" concerning Harvey, according to the New York Daily News.
Though the Mets have depth, losing Harvey for any amount of time is obviously not the way the club hoped to start the season. Still, it seems as though it isn't a serious ailment.
The defending NL champion Mets have a plethora of weapons in their rotation, including Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon. Zack Wheeler is also expected to return from Tommy John surgery in June or July.
Harvey, who turned 27 on Sunday, went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA in 2015 -- his first season back from Tommy John surgery -- and followed it up with a 2-0 record and 3.04 ERA in the playoffs.
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