Welcome to the new Matt Harvey and a new way of handling him.
It should prove to be a winning combination.
Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland used Harvey for five shutout innings Tuesday night at a cold, wet Citi Field against the Phillies. This was a healthy Harvey that wasn’t super sharp but elevated his fastball when needed, and was in command even without the lights-out fastball of his past.
As the weather warms so will his fastball.
When Harvey lobbied to stay in the scoreless game after those five shutout innings (five Ks, one hit) as any competitor would, Eiland flatly said no.