Has Cincinnati Reds starter Matt Harvey been redeemed?
The 29-year-old right-hander is suddenly pitching well for the Reds, with a 2.48 ERA and 2.67 FIP in his last five starts, going at least five innings in each start. His average fastball velocity has increased over this last stretch, as well, around 94 miles per hour. That's a big uptick from the 91 to 92 range he was averaging through April.
Still, there are warning signs that a full-on Dark Knight renaissance isn't upon us. First, Harvey's strikeout percentage through June 8th was 17.5%, and in his last five starts, it's only 17.1%. Also, his xFIP of 4.37 indicates he's been out-pitching his peripherals a bit lately. And he's still not dominating lineups like he used to, even if his fastball velocity has returned.
So take Harvey's hot last month and see what you can get for it, maybe a younger pitcher with a nice ceiling who has struggled but has good peripherals.