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One day after losing his streak of 52 consecutive successful save opportunities, New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia shockingly blew another save in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Familia was charged with a loss in addition to the blown save in both games, first turning a 4-3 lead into a 5-4 loss Wednesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, and then turning a 1-0 advantage into a 2-1 deficit Thursday afternoon against Colorado.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Familia owns the third-longest streak since saves became an official stat in 1969, trailing only Eric Gagne (84) and Tom Gordon (54), with Jose Valverde (51) just a tick behind.

Arguably the most dominant closer in MLB history, albeit for a rather short period, Gagne had a streak that lasted from 2002 to 2004, helping him earn the National League Cy Young Award in 2003, following a fourth-place finish the previous year.

Familia‘s streak stretched back to August 1 of last season, though he did have three blown saves in the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, despite allowing just one earned run and one unearned run during the series.

The 26-year-old was rather lucky to enjoy such a remarkable streak, as he doesn’t have dominant numbers this season apart from his MLB-leading save total (36), carrying a 3.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, with 49 strikeouts and 22 walks in 48.2 innings.

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New York Mets infielder Jose Reyes was held out of the second game in Tuesday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals after going to the hospital for a Grade 1 intercostal strain on his left side, according to CBS New York.

Continue for updates.

Reyes Isn’t Expected to Miss Significant Time

Wednesday, July 27

Reyes and Mets manager Terry Collins are hopeful that the strained left intercostal muscle will only require Reyes to be out of action for a few days, according to James Wagner of the New York Times.

“We’re going to take it day by day and see what happens,” Reyes said, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Reyes, 33, is hitting .239 with three home runs, eight RBI and three stolen bases in 16 games with the Mets since being called up from the minors on July 5. The team signed him on June 25 shortly after the Colorado Rockies released him the same day. He served a 52-game suspension to start the season after he was arrested in October for allegedly assaulting his wife.

Wilmer Flores will fill in as the team’s third baseman in the meantime. And the Mets are confident he will play well in Reyes’ absence. 

“He’s done a great job,” Collins said of Flores, per Dan Martin of the New York Post. “He is absolutely killing left-handed pitching. When you’re doing that, you’re gonna get a lot of playing time—especially against left-handers.”

Flores has been red-hot in July, hitting .340 with seven home runs, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored in 50 at-bats, so the Mets shouldn’t suffer with Flores temporarily playing an everyday role. 

Meanwhile, Curtis Granderson is sliding into the leadoff spot in the team’s batting order on Wednesday night, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN, and will likely remain there until Reyes returns.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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Making just the 43rd appearance and 42nd start of his young MLB career, New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard recorded his 300th career strikeout during Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs, becoming the third-fastest active pitcher (in terms of games played) to reach the 300-K plateau, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Despite having some recent issues with arm fatigue leading up to the All-Star break, Syndergaard was apparently unfazed by a tough road matchup against Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, a reigning Cy Young Award winner who has the backing of a lineup that averages more than five runs per game.

The 23-year-old righty proceeded to strike out eight batters while allowing only one run (unearned) on seven hits and two walks, though he did need 105 pitches to make it through just 5.2 innings—which is perfectly excusable when facing a notoriously patient Cubs lineup that leads the majors in walk rate (10.7 percent).

While neither starting pitcher factored into the decision, Syndergaard still owns an impressive 9-4 record in 19 appearances (18 starts) this season, with a 2.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and ridiculous 136-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 111.1 innings.

Now sporting 302 strikeouts in 43 career appearances, Syndergaard trails only Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish (37 games) and Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (42) as the quickest active players to reach the aforementioned plateau.

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Remember when the New York Mets‘ vaunted super-rotation was a beacon of hope and stability in Queens?

So much for that.

Matt Harvey is lost for the season to shoulder surgery. Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are pitching through bone spurs in their elbows. And Zack Wheeler has hit multiple speed bumps in his return from Tommy John surgery.

That leaves only Jacob deGrom, who twirled nine scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday and served notice that he’s still an ace worth leaning on.

No one had given up on deGrom, at least no one whose opinion you should trust. But the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year endured a rough patch early in the season and watched his ERA balloon more than two points between April 30 and May 21. 

Over his last nine starts, however, he’s vacillated between stout and stellar, striking out 68 in 61 innings while allowing just 12 walks and 13 earned runs.

Sunday’s performance was particularly transcendent. Only a walk to woeful Ryan Howard and a hit by Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin stood between deGrom and perfection as he engineered the first complete game and first shutout of his young career.

And he did other things well, too, as Newsday‘s Marc Carig pointed out:

“There was all that concern about his velocity early, but he’s just gotten a little stronger and a little stronger,” manager Terry Collins said after deGrom’s gem, per Stephen Pianovich and Evan Webeck of MLB.com. … “You saw better command today and probably the best sinker he had all year.”

Entering play Sunday, deGrom’s average fastball velocity of 93.2 mph was a tick below his career average of 94.1 mph. But it’s been trending in the right direction. And, as Collins noted, the sinker was on-point against Philadelphia, as deGrom induced 10 ground balls to just five fly balls. 

Simply put, he looked like the guy Mets fans have come to know and love. The guy they can count on to anchor a suddenly unsettled starting five.

Things aren’t hopeless after deGrom.

Syndergaard sports a 2.56 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 105.2 innings. He left his most recent start on July 8 with what the team termed “arm fatigue,” but he threw from 90 feet Friday and said he felt like he had “a new arm,” per Maria Guardado of NJ Advance Media. 

Matz has posted a 3.38 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 96 innings. And Bartolo Colon, the ageless wonder, is 8-4 with a 3.11 ERA.

But neither Syndergaard nor Matz has logged a full season in the big leagues, and both pitched deep into autumn last season during New York’s World Series run. And, again, both are battling arm issues that loom over every start and turn each grimace or twinge into a hold-your-breath moment. 

Colon, meanwhile, is a great story but also a 43-year-old who posted a 4.16 ERA in 2015. Add Harvey’s surgery and Wheeler’s protracted comeback and it’s reasonable to wonder if the Mets might deal for a starting pitcher before the non-waiver trade deadline, a thought that would have seemed absurd a few months ago.

Then again, New York may need to save its trade capital to improve an offense that ranks No. 28 in baseball in runs scored. Last summer, slugger Yoenis Cespedes—who’s currently dealing with a balky right quad—rode in as the deadline cavalry. Unless general manager Sandy Alderson can repeat the trick, the Mets might be sunk regardless.

OK, we’ve taken a dark turn. Now, the good news. At 49-42, New York is tied with the Miami Marlins in the NL wild-card race and sits a manageable six games behind the division-leading Washington Nationals. A couple of hot weeks could easily propel the defending Senior Circuit champs toward the top of the heap.

With the even-year San Francisco Giants and strapping young Chicago Cubs looking vulnerable, the NL remains up for grabs.

If the Mets plan to grab it, they need deGrom to consistently embody the dude who took the hill Sunday. They need him to be the man. And they need him to set aside the fatigue he admitted took a toll in the first half.

“One hundred sixty-two games is a lot,” he said, per James Wagner of the New York Times. “We’re over halfway through. You start to feel things and get a little worn out. I definitely think that break was needed for me.”

The bottom line is this: An area of unmitigated strength has sunk into uncertainty, and deGrom is the most reliable lifeline. 

No one expects him to toss a shutout every time he takes the ball. But the 28-year-old right-hander’s role is clear: Put this rotation—and, by extension, team—on your back and carry them back to the postseason promised land. He’ll need help from his remaining rotation-mates and quite possibly outside reinforcements. 

But he has to be a spark—a beacon of hope. And if recent results are any indication, he’s up to the task.

All statistics current as of July 17 and courtesy of MLB.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

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New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard exited Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning with what the team called “arm fatigue,” per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Continue for updates.

Syndergaard Out for All-Star Game

Saturday, July 9

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported San Diego Padres pitcher Drew Pomeranz will replace Syndergaard at the All-Star Game.

Collins Comments on Syndergaard‘s Recovery

Saturday, July 9

Manager Terry Collins told reporters Syndergaard is not expected to have an MRI and will travel to San Diego for the All-Star Game, where “ the hope is that he’ll play catch there, throw a side session in Philadelphia.”

Syndergaard‘s Injury Cause for Concern

MLB.com’s David Adler noted Syndergaard‘s last fastball clocked in at 91 mph. The ace has the highest average fastball velocity in Major League Baseball this season at 98.2 mph, per FanGraphs.

In June, there were reports Syndergaard had bone spurs in his right elbow, but he avoided the disabled list. Friday’s events, however, will only ramp up concern for both Syndergaard and New York.

Matt Harvey announced on Twitter earlier in the day that he will miss the rest of the season because of thoracic outlet syndrome.

The loss of Syndergaard for a long period would be a big blow for the Mets. He was second in MLB to Clayton Kershaw with 4.1 WAR and ranked fifth with 10.96 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.41 ERA entering play Friday, per FanGraphs.

New York has depth in its rotation with Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon, but after the loss of Harvey, any time Syndergaard misses will further damage its chances of overtaking Washington in the National League East.

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NEW YORK — On the day the New York Mets announced Matt Harvey will have his second major surgery in four years, Ron Darling brought up Tim Leary’s name.

“He had some of the best stuff I’ve seen,” said Darling, who joined the Mets in 1983, Leary’s second big league season.

Leary had great stuff. In part because of injuries, he didn’t have a great career.

Harvey still could.

What happened this week was another tough break, with Harvey learning he has thoracic outlet syndrome and will need surgery that will cost him the rest of this season. But season-ending is a long way from career-ending.

When I relayed what we know about Harvey’s condition to a friend who once worked as a major league athletic trainer, my friend predicted a strong recovery.

“I’d still draft him on my fantasy team for next year,” he said.

Harvey’s agent, Scott Boras, said by phone that he regards this week’s developments as “positive” news.

“We finally know why Matt’s command has been off,” Boras said.

Thoracic outlet syndrome may not be that well known by average fans, but plenty of pitchers have had it, and plenty have come back from it. Boras said Harvey was diagnosed with the neurogenic form of the ailment, meaning the impingement in his shoulder affects the nerves rather than the blood flow.

That helps explain why Harvey can still throw a baseball 98 mph, as he did Monday against the Miami Marlins. It also explains why he often hasn’t been able to throw it where he wants, with a walk rate (2.4 per nine innings) that is up considerably from last season (1.8).

The nerve impingement made it hard for Harvey to find a consistent arm slot. By removing the rib that has pushed against the nerve, doctors will create more space for the nerve, and theoretically allow Harvey to get back to having a consistent delivery.

There are plenty of examples of pitchers who have come back strong from similar surgeries, starting with Kenny Rogers, who had it done at age 36 and made three more All-Star teams. Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter the year after he had the surgery.

But surgery is surgery, and this will be two big ones for Harvey, before he ever throws 200 innings in a major league season (he had Tommy John surgery in 2013). Any team looking to commit money to Harvey will know that. Clubs will also know the biggest risk factor for any pitcher is a history of getting hurt.

That’s all hugely significant for the Mets, because they won’t have Harvey for the rest of 2016 and probably don’t have him as a possible trade chip this coming winter. It’s hugely significant for Harvey, because he has less time to establish himself as dependable before free agency arrives after the 2018 season.

Back in July 2013, around the time Harvey was starting the All-Star Game and before the Tommy John surgery, he did an interview with David Amsden of Men’s Journal in which he talked about how big a star he was and wanted to be in New York.

“I could buy a place now, but I’ve gotta wait for that $200 million contract,” Harvey said then. “If I’m going to buy an apartment, it has to be the best apartment in the city.”

He didn’t get that $200 million contract then, and he’s not getting it right now, either. He could still get it in 2018, but teams don’t give deals like that to pitchers who can’t get through a season.

Forget the money for now, though, because this is about a lot more than money. This is about a pitcher who even opponents enjoy watching—a pitcher whose body once again has gotten in the way of him getting to the mound.

“It’s just not a good feeling,” said Max Scherzer, the Washington Nationals right-hander who would have pitched against Harvey on Saturday night (and will now face Logan Verrett instead). “I want to beat the Mets and Matt Harvey. I want him out there.”

Scherzer said his heart aches for Harvey—a sentiment similar to the one Darling expressed Friday. Any of us can feel for a player who gets hurt, but those who have pitched in the big leagues understand the emotions better than we ever can.

“Matt has been to heights few have been,” Darling said. “But the only way to have a great career is to be able to sustain it. I have great compassion for him. I just hope he has better luck.

“He’s young, he loves to do something and he can’t do it.”

And that’s why when Mets manager Terry Collins described Harvey’s mood Friday as both disappointed and optimistic, I totally got it.

Based on what we know about his condition, he should be optimistic about a successful return. Based on two major surgeries in four years, he should be extremely disappointed and cautious as he views the future.

What happened this week doesn’t necessarily threaten what still could be a great career. But it sure does burden Harvey with another big obstacle to overcome.

Danny Knobler covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.

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New York Mets ace Matt Harvey will undergo surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in his right arm and will miss the remainder of the 2016 MLB season, his agent Scott Boras announced Friday.

Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reported the news, and Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball noted Harvey has been having trouble feeling his fingertips all season.

Boras commented on the surgery, per Rubin:

The doctors clearly recommended that he have this done, mainly so that he can be ready for ’17. The rehab on this is six months. Now, if there was a small window of a season, you might be able to take a shot. It’s actually Botox, which relaxes the muscles. That’s not a long-term solution.

The only way this is going to be treated appropriately — and obviously we don’t want to do anything to affect next year — is to get this surgically taken care of.

Harvey tweeted his disappointment about the diagnosis:

Harvey, 27, went 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 17 starts. He struck out just 76 batters in 92.2 innings and struggled with his command and velocity throughout much of the year.

The Mets placed him on the disabled list Wednesday after he complained of shoulder pain. Harvey left Monday’s start against the Miami Marlins, having given up six runs on 11 hits in 3.2 innings. It was the second straight game Harvey failed to make it out of the fourth inning.

Dr. Robert Thompson diagnosed Harvey with thoracic outlet syndrome Thursday, at which point he was presented with the option of surgery or taking a nerve blocker. Surgery offers a four-month time frame before Harvey could pitch again, while the injections could have brought him back to the rotation at some point this season.

“It’s unclear how effective that would be or for how long,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said, per Rubin. “… I do believe that surgery is probably inevitable and more a question of timing than anything else. So, obviously, to the extent that we’re backed up for a period of time, it begins potentially to encroach on 2017 as well.”

The Mets (47-38) are in second place in the NL East and are trying to build on a surprise World Series appearance last year. Harvey was one of the biggest reasons for New York’s ascent, earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors after returning from Tommy John surgery.

Questions may now arise about Harvey’s usage during that 2015 campaign. As noted by ESPN Stats & Info, Harvey’s 216 innings (including postseason) were the most of any player in his first year back from Tommy John. Boras and the Mets had a disagreement behind the scenes last season about Harvey’s usage; there was concern about his going over a 180-inning limit set by Dr. James Andrews.

While the injuries are different, some will no doubt draw the line and conclude Boras was right to look out for the best interest of his client.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.

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The New York Mets‘ Matt Harvey landed on the disabled list Wednesday with shoulder discomfort, and there’s simply no positive way to spin that.

We’re talking about one of the game’s top pitchers when he’s right. And we’re talking about a Mets team that’s fighting to stay in the National League playoff money one season after advancing to the World Series.

There is a glass-half-full take here, however, if you dig deep enough.

First, the news on Harvey: The right-hander is headed to the 15-day DL with the “suspicion” he may have thoracic outlet syndrome, per Newsday‘s David Lennon. In case you don’t have your “Obscure Upper Body Injury of the Month” calendar handy, that’s a shoulder ailment that can lead to season-ending surgery, as it did for the Minnesota Twins‘ Phil Hughes in June. 

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, of course. Harvey doesn’t even have an official diagnosis yet, let alone a prognosis. But these are ominous signs for the guy who came back strong from Tommy John surgery in 2015, posting a 2.71 ERA and blowing past his doctor-recommended 180-inning limit with 216 frames between the regular season and playoffs.

It’s also foreboding for the Mets, who were counting on their young, stud-stuffed rotation to carry them once again.

Even if Harvey is out for an extended period, however, this isn’t a death knell for New York.

They’ve got newly minted All-Star Noah Syndergaard, an ace by any measure with his triple-digit heat, 2.41 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 101 innings.

Jacob deGrom (2.61 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 93 innings) and rookie left-hander Steven Matz (3.34 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 89 innings) round out a stellar top three.

Then there’s ageless wonder Bartolo Colon, whose 7-4 record, 2.87 ERA and Twitter-busting homer belie the 43 years he’s spent as an inhabitant of planet Earth.

Logan Verrett, who sports a 4.01 ERA and has walked 22 in 49.1 innings, is expected to take Harvey’s turn Saturday against the division-leading Washington Nationals, per CBSSports.com. 

Long term, however, the Mets are counting on the return of right-hander Zack Wheeler, who hit a bump in his recovery from Tommy John surgery but resumed throwing without issue on June 27, per ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin. 

A first-round San Francisco Giants pick in 2009, the 26-year-old Wheeler boasts 271 strikeouts in 285.1 innings with the Mets between 2013 and 2014.

Injury comebacks are never guaranteed, but there’s reason to believe Wheeler can provide New York with another top-shelf arm just as the race for October is heating up.

At the very least, he should be able to outperform Harvey, who wasn’t exactly setting the league ablaze.

With a 4-10 record and 4.86 ERA through 17 starts, Harvey looked more like a fifth starter clinging to his job than the Cy Young-contending Dark Knight Gotham was expecting. Even if you allow for a little bad luck—as his 3.49 FIP suggests—no one who watched Harvey pitch this season would claim he was anything close to a No. 1.

“It’s mostly a mechanical thing,” Harvey said on June 23, per Rubin. “Obviously it’s been a struggle mechanically pretty much all year.”

Maybe the shoulder issue, whatever it turns out to be, explains some of that. Maybe it also explains the velocity dip that saw Harvey’s average fastball fall from 95.2 mph in 2015 to 94.4 mph.

This DL stint is frown-inducing no matter what, as Matt Vaccaro of the New York Post outlined:

Despite their recent offensive surge, these Mets were built on the backs of their starting pitchers. That always included Harvey as an anchor, and even when he struggled, it included the belief that once Harvey shook off his malaise, he would return to the form he once knew, would be what the team expected he should be.

Remember, though he may have been supplanted by Noah Syndergaard now, Harvey began this season as the team’s ace. You don’t just shake off losing your ace, even if he’s been resoundingly vulnerable to date, even as the team has had to adapt around his struggles. 

Fair enough. Honestly, though, the Mets’ bigger concern remains the offense, which has indeed shown flashes lately but still ranks in the bottom third of MLB in runs, batting average and OPS. If the Mets add anything at the trade deadline, it should be a bat.

New York obviously hopes the Harvey news is less than dire and he returns to action approximating his old self.

But even in a worst-case scenario, there’s hope, thanks to the Syndergaard/deGrom/Matz trifecta, the potential of a Wheeler return and a dash of Colon.

The Nats are formidable, and the path to an NL wild-card slot is crowded, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and even the pesky Miami Marlins all in the hunt.

And yet, while there’s no positive way to spin an injury to a franchise pitcher, there’s also no reason to panic in Queens—at least not yet.

All statistics current as of July 6 and courtesy of MLB.com and FanGraphs.

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New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with discomfort in his right shoulder. He will miss the rest of the season because of thoracic outlet syndrome. 

Continue for updates.

Harvey Out for Season

Friday, July 8

Harvey’s agent, Scott Boras, said the pitcher would miss the rest of the season to undergo surgery on his thoracic outlet syndrome, per Adam Rubin of ESPN.com. 

Harvey Comments on Injury

Thursday, July 7

“My shoulder’s dead, my arm’s dead, there’s no energy there, I couldn’t feel the ball,” Harvey said after his last start, according to manager Terry Collins (per Wagner).

Harvey Placed on DL

Wednesday, July 6

The Mets announced Seth Lugo was recalled from Las Vegas to fill Harvey’s spot on the roster.

Harvey No Stranger to Injuries

The setback represents just another injury woe for the ace, who has struggled with consistency throughout the 2016 season.

Harvey dealt with a blood clot in his bladder in late March, but it didn’t prevent him from taking the mound on Opening Day. However, the 2015 National League Comeback Player of the Year didn’t look like himself over the first month of the season.

He went 1-3 over his first four starts with a 5.24 ERA, 14 strikeouts and eight walks. Some poor mechanics may have been to blame.

According to Newsday‘s Marc Carig, Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen said Harvey was “collapsing his back leg in the stretch,” which hindered his consistency.

All told, Harvey is 4-10 this season with a career-worst 4.86 ERA, 1.486 WHIP, 76 strikeouts and 25 walks.

Manager Terry Collins can take solace in the fact that he has one of the strongest rotations in baseball to help compensate for Harvey’s absence. Between Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Bartolo Colon and Steven Matz, the Mets have enough firepower to keep opposing batters at bay.

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The New York Mets announced Monday they expect to activate veteran shortstop Jose Reyes ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins.

Reyes signed a minor league deal to return to the Mets in June after stints with Miami, the Toronto Blue Jays and most recently the Colorado Rockies.

On Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted Reyes will once again wear No. 7, with Travis d’Arnaud wearing No. 18.

The 33-year-old was a four-time All-Star, three-time National League stolen-base leader and the 2011 NL batting champion during his heyday with the Mets.

Now, Reyes is returning to the organization following an abrupt halt to his time in Colorado. MLB suspended him through May 31 for violating its domestic violence policy, and once he was removed from the restricted list, the Rockies designated the shortstop for assignment.

ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell noted the Mets’ transaction absolves them from paying the vast majority of Reyes’ lucrative contract:

At least one teammate believes Reyes will make a considerable impact upon his arrival.

“He’s going to bring us a ton of energy,” team captain David Wright said, per ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin. “And I think that’s something we can really use is his dynamic on the field—his speed, his charisma, his ability.”

Wright is on the disabled list with a neck injury, forcing the club to scramble and reshuffle personnel. The good news is New York is riding a five-game winning streak. Four of those victories came in a sweep of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs before Monday’s 8-6 win over the Marlins.

As NJ.com’s Maria Guardado reported Sunday, Reyes was working exclusively at third base in the minors, so he figures to take Wilmer Flores’ place at the hot corner when he makes his debut.

According to Rubin, Mets manager Terry Collins plans to put Reyes in the leadoff spot ahead of Curtis Granderson, who will slide to No. 2 in the batting order.

Although he has a long way to go to prove himself in the clubhouse, as well as on the field, the fresh start in New York may be what Reyes needs to get his career back on track.

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