Harvey (back) won't return in 2024, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Harvey has not made sufficient progress while rehabbing his back injury, and the Royals have opted to shut him down instead. He'll end the season with a 4.44 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 55:16 K:BB over 50.2 innings while adding a save and 28 holds across 49 appearances between the Nationals and the Royals.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Resumes playing catch
Rotowire
Harvey (back) resumed playing catch last week but remains without a clear timeline for returning from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
After landing on the IL on Aug. 10 with mid-back tightness, Harvey was cleared to resume throwing off a mound three weeks later, but he was shut down from throwing for a week after he didn't respond as well as hoped to the bullpen session. The Royals haven't indicated that Harvey has experienced any setbacks since he started playing catch, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to get back on the mound in the coming days. Before being deactivated, Harvey had accrued a 4.44 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 55:16 K:BB across 50.2 innings while notching two wins, one save and 28 holds in 49 relief appearances between the Royals and Nationals on the season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Harvey (back) threw a bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Harvey was shut down for a bit after experiencing a setback with his back injury, but he's made enough progress to resume throwing. The reliever has missed nearly a month of action and might require a rehab appearance or two before rejoining the Royals bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Suffers setback
Rotowire
Harvey (back) suffered a setback in his recovery Tuesday and will be shut down from all activity for the next 2-to-3 days, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Harvey received a cortisone injection Tuesday to help his back recover, and manager Matt Quatraro estimates that the 29-year-old reliever will be back to playing catch before the end of the week. He had been looking to rejoin the Royals' bullpen before the end of the month, though his setback will likely push his return into September.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Close to mound work
Rotowire
Harvey (back) is progressing well and hopes to be clear to throw a bullpen session in the coming days, Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.
Harvey hasn't made an appearance since Aug. 4 because of mid-back tightness, an injury that he initially suffered in late July. The right-handed reliever looks to be trending in the right direction and should have a shot to return before the end of the month if all goes well. Harvey is part of the late-inning mix in Kansas City.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Royals placed Harvey on the 15-day injured list Saturday with mid-back tightness.
Manager Matt Quatraro revealed after Friday's game that back tightness is the reason Harvey hasn't made an appearance since Sunday, and the 29-year-old righty will now officially be sidelined until at least Aug. 23. Lucas Erceg and James McArthur figure to be the leading candidates for saves while Harvey is out, and the Royals will bring up Carlos Hernandez from Triple-A Omaha to replenish their bullpen depth.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Collects 28th hold
Rotowire
Harvey recorded his 28th hold of the season in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the White Sox, giving up a run on two hits over one inning while striking out two.
The right-hander left Sunday's game due to lower-back spasms, but Harvey was back in action a couple days later. The Royals added another high-leverage arm at the trade deadline in Lucas Erceg, which likely puts another reliever between Harvey and save chances, but he should remain in a setup role.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Dealing with back spasms
Rotowire
Harvey was diagnosed with left lower-back spasms after leaving Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Harvey looked uncomfortable before exiting the contest, as he walked two batters and threw just seven of 22 pitches for strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning. With closer James McArthur continuing to struggle, Harvey could miss a chance to secure the role if the injury forces him to miss any time.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Harvey was removed from Sunday's game against the Cubs due to an apparent injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander threw just seven of 22 pitches for strikes as he walked two batters in two-thirds of an inning before departing the contest in discomfort. It was Harvey's third appearance since being acquired by the Royals, and his availability going forward is now unclear.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Grabs first hold with new team
Rotowire
Harvey walked one and hit a batter in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn a hold in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Diamondbacks.
While the Royals failed to hold the lead, it wasn't Harvey's fault, as he protected a one-run advantage in the eighth inning. Harvey is in a high-leverage role following his trade from the Nationals, though he has yet to differentiate himself from the other middling late-inning options on Kansas City's roster. For the year, he has a 4.21 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 52:14 K:BB with no saves, 27 holds and two blown saves through 47 innings. James McArthur has functioned as the Royals' closer this year, but his continued struggles since May leave him on shaky ground, potentially opening the door for Harvey or other relievers like Chris Stratton, John Schreiber and Sam Long to get looks for saves as long as the team remains in the playoff hunt.
Harvey (2-4) took the loss Monday against the Mets, surrendering five runs (four earned) on three hits over two-thirds of an inning as the Nationals fell 9-7 in 10 innings.
The final frame was a disaster for Harvey and the Nats -- after the right-hander hit Harrison Bader with a pitch, J.D. Martinez crushed a splitter over the heart of the plate for a three-run shot before extra-base hits by Tyrone Taylor and Francisco Alvarez chased Harvey from the game. The normally reliable set-up man has been tagged for eight earned runs in his last four appearances, and his ERA has more than doubled over the last month, going from 2.08 after an appearance June 2 to 4.24 following Monday's outing.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Blows first save of year
Rotowire
Harvey (2-3) took the loss and blew the save in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Padres, coughing up four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning.
The right-hander is having a bumpy June, giving up runs in four of nine appearances en route to a 7.71 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB in 9.1 innings. Monday's blown save was his first of the year though, and Harvey remains the Nationals' top set-up option ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan, having already racked up a career-high 23 holds. Should Washington become sellers at the trade deadline and send Finnegan to a contender, Harvey would almost certainly move into the ninth-inning role.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Falls apart Thursday
Rotowire
Harvey (2-2) took the loss Thursday against Atlanta, coughing up three runs on four hits in an inning of relief.
Taking the mound with the score tied 2-2, Harvey got two quick outs before the wheels came off, with the rally highlighted by Marcell Ozuna's two-run homer on a slider that caught too much of the plate. Harvey had been scored upon only once in his prior 10 appearances, and the long ball was just the second he's served up this season in 31.1 innings. The right-hander has been generally outstanding as the Nationals' top setup man, posting a 2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 34:6 K:BB, and his 18 holds already has him one away from his career high.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: No issues in return to mound
Rotowire
Harvey (hand) struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday.
The right-hander was removed from his last appearance Tuesday after being struck by a comebacker on his glove hand, but Harvey looked 100 percent Friday as he fired 16 of 20 pitches for strikes. The 29-year-old has been the Nationals' best reliever to begin the season, posting a 2.84 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB through 6.1 innings with a win and four holds in six appearances, but manager Dave Martinez has so far preferred using Harvey as his high-leverage relief ace while leaving Kyle Finnegan in the closer role.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Dazzles in second hold
Rotowire
Harvey struck out four batters over 1.2 perfect innings to record his second hold of the season in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.
Entering the game with one out in the seventh inning, the right-hander carved up the heart of Pittsburgh's order, with a soft liner back to Harvey from Jack Suwinski being the only ball put into play against him. Harvey got tagged for two runs in his first appearance of the season but has settled down quickly after that, and he sports a 6:1 K:BB through 3.2 innings. Kyle Finnegan is 2-for-3 in save chances so far, but Harvey could be pushing for ninth-inning work before long if he keeps dominating.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Agrees to deal with Nats
Rotowire
Harvey agreed to a contract with the Nationals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The details of the deal were not disclosed. Harvey finished the 2023 season with 10 saves -- the first of his career -- and maintained a 2.82 ERA and 0.94 WHIP to go along with a 67:13 K:BB across 60.2 innings. That strong showing should keep him locked into a high-leverage role to begin 2024, potentially sharing saves with Kyle Finnegan.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Collects 10th save
Rotowire
Harvey picked up the save Friday in Miami, allowing one hit and striking out one to preserve a 7-4 win.
Kyle Finnegan could have been unavailable after throwing 31 pitches to notch a save Thursday versus the Yankees. Harvey was handed the ball and converted the save without a sweat, retiring three straight after a leadoff single. It's his 10th save of the season but his first since coming off the injured list earlier this month following an elbow injury. Harvey's looked sharp since his return, spinning seven scoreless frames with an 8:1 K:BB. Finnegan has also been terrific and is still the favorite for saves down the stretch, but Harvey has been the Nats' best reliever when healthy.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Picks up hold Thursday
Rotowire
Harvey gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Thursday to record his 12th hold of the season in a win over the Red Sox.
Making his second appearance since being activated from the injured list earlier in the week, Harvey handled setup duties while Kyle Finnegan continues to close for the Nationals. With Finnegan having converted eight straight save chances over the last month or so, Harvey may not work back into the ninth-inning mix down the stretch, but his 2.98 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB through 42.1 innings on the season still give him fantasy value in deeper formats.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Return imminent
Rotowire
Harvey (elbow) could be activated this upcoming week without needing a rehab assignment, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Harvey threw a bullpen session Sunday, which apparently went well enough that he could be activated early this upcoming week. While it's great news that Harvey is nearly ready to return, Kyle Finnegan has been excellent for the Nationals of late -- he has a 12-game scoreless streak going with seven saves since July 17. Harvey may return to a setup role or take on a share of the ninth-inning work.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Will throw to live hitters
Rotowire
Harvey (elbow) is set to throw to live hitters Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals have been without their go-to ninth inning reliever for close to a month. Harvey was sent to the 15-day injured list on July 17 with a right elbow strain. When he faces live hitting Friday, he will pitch for three outs or between 20-to-25 pitches as he nears a return.
