Mets: Five of the best Matt Harvey starts we should not forget

Before he’s gone for good, let’s take a look back at the best starts from Matt Harvey in his New York Mets career.

With the pending separation between Matt Harvey and the New York Mets, it’s only fitting to look back at some of his best starts. Those with short memories remember the bad ones. Others can enjoy these outings.

#5: 06/18/2013 versus Atlanta Braves

This was a very exciting day for the Mets and their fans. The only thing that could have made it better was if the game was at Citi Field, not in Atlanta. Matt Harvey threw seven scoreless innings before giving up three runs in the eighth.

He still earned the win, but what is really notable was his career high 13 strikeouts. This also happens to be the same day Zack Wheeler made his debut in a separate game during the doubleheader.

FINAL LINE: 7IP, 3H, 3BB, 3ER, 13K, W.

#4: 04/09/2015 versus Washington Nationals

Nobody knew how Harvey would fare during this game, but he brought himself back into the Mets rotation with electricity. It was his first game back from Tommy John.

He blanked the Nationals in their home ballpark opposite Stephen Strasburg, with tons of Mets fans in attendance chanting “Harvey’s Better.” He lasted six innings and gave up four hits and a walk while striking out nine. Bryce Harper struck out three times that day, all at the hands of Harvey.

FINAL LINE: 6IP, 4H, 1BB, 0ER, 9K, W.

#3: 07/26/2012 versus Arizona Diamondbacks

Harvey’s major league debut was easily the best strikeout performance of his career. He struck out 11 batters over 5.1 innings, which included three strikeouts of Paul Goldschmidt.

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Following his debut, every double-digit strikeout performance was at least six innings. His 11 over 5.1 is a K/9 rate of more than 16.7. Harvey also didn’t give up a run in this start and gave up three hits and three walks. It’s only fitting that such a dominant performance also earned Harvey his first win.

FINAL LINE: 5.1IP, 3H, 3BB, 0ER, 11K, W.

#2: 08/07/2013 versus Colorado Rockies

Facing a lineup that featured a rookie Nolan Arenado and relatively new Charlie Blackmon, Harvey shutout the Rockies. This was the first complete game shutout of his career and he did it giving up just four hits and zero walks.

This start earned Harvey his ninth and final win of the 2013 season, just weeks before Tommy John.

FINAL LINE: 9IP, 4H, 0BB, 0ER, 6K, W.

#1: 05/07/2013 versus Chicago White Sox

You will be hard-pressed to find a Mets fan who thinks Matt Harvey pitched a better game than this one. He was less than a year removed from his debut and showing the same brilliance that earned him the All-star game start.

The White Sox couldn’t touch him. He pitched nine shutout innings, allowing just one baserunner, a seventh-inning single to Alex Rios. His 12 strikeouts were also one shy of his career high and he only needed 105 pitches but did not pitch the tenth.

FINAL LINE: 9IP, 1H, 0BB, 0ER, 12K.

Next: Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is an early Gold Glove candidate

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Which of Harvey’s starts was your favorite?