Matt Harvey will remain in Mets rotation, manager Terry Collins says

Matt Harvey, mired in the worst three-start stretch of his career, will remain in the New York Mets' rotation, manager Terry Collins announced Wednesday morning, hours after Harvey was hit hard by the division rival Washington Nationals for the second time in less than a week.

The erstwhile Mets ace - coming off a season in which he threw a career-high 216 innings, including playoffs - has a 6.08 ERA, fifth-worst in the major leagues among qualified starters. Tuesday, he gave up fourth-inning home runs to Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon and a towering two-run shot in the fifth to former teammate Daniel Murphy before he was removed for a pinch hitter. In his previous start against the Nationals, he gave up nine runs - six earned - and couldn't escape the third inning.

"I'm not giving up on him," Collins told reporters in Washington, about a half-hour after he summoned Harvey to his office along with pitching coach Dan Warthen.

Indeed, Harvey's track record - a career 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings and 1.08 WHIP - suggests patience is the proper course.

Other indicators are more alarming.

Harvey elicited just four swings and misses from the 49 pitches he threw to the Nationals on Tuesday. He struck out just one batter after striking out two among the eight outs he recorded in his previous start. And both his WHIP (1.69) and strikeouts per nine (7.4) are far below his career mark.

Still, Harvey probably represents the Mets' best option in that spot, even if both his arm and psyche might benefit from a break. Harvey's next start will come Monday at Citi Field against the Chicago White Sox.