WASHINGTON — Three months ago, Matt Harvey strutted around the Nationals’ mound here during one of the most important starts of his young career, his first since having Tommy John surgery. He fired fastballs at will, snapped his slider like a whip, struck out Bryce Harper three times and announced to the baseball world that he was back.
During his start here Monday, the lasting image of Harvey was him turning, his hands out, watching as a Clint Robinson double ricocheted high off the center-field wall in the third inning. Harvey’s command looked off, and this time, the Nationals did not look intimidated.