This is quite the pickle that the Mets have found themselves in regarding Matt Harvey. They don’t want to push him past that 180 IP mark a season following Tommy John surgery, but they also need him in the rotation in the postseason to help them go all the way.

If they are wise, they will do anything they can to ensure that he pitches in October. The Nationals learned the hard way that chances in the postseason don’t come often and teams have to do everything they can to make sure they make it deep in the playoffs.

Keep an eye on Harvey, as well as fellow Mets rotation pitchers Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard and Bartolo Colon to see what happens over the next few weeks.

Jake Thompson (SP, PHI, Double-A)

Stats: 132.2 IP, 3.73 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 7.60 K/9, 2.85 BB/9, 0.68 HR/9

Jake Thompson was one of the many players going to Philadelphia as part of the Cole Hamels deal. While pitching in the Rangers’ system, Thompson struggled, pitching to a 4.72 ERA and 3.81 FIP in 87.2 IP. Since coming over to Philadelphia, it has been a very different story as Thompson owns a 1.80 ERA and 3.43 FIP in his 45.0 IP in the Phillies’ system.

The 21-year-old right-hander has a lot of talent. Thompson throws two fastballs, a four-seam and a two-seam, and both sit around 90-95. The best weapon in his arsenal is his slider, which he can throw around 85-88 mph that features a great wipeout action. His changeup and curveball are both potential plus pitches, but still need quite a bit of improving. As for his control, it has really improved this year as he has been able to throw strikes while keeping his pitches out of the heart of the plate.

Thompson has the potential to be a top of the rotation arm for the Philadelphia Phillies. He has all of the stuff to be a great and he has the size (6’4” 235 lbs) to last the wear and tear of a full season. He is a draft sleeper for the 2016 fantasy season as he is a very likely candidate to snag a rotation spot.

Jameson Taillon (SP, PIT, NA)

Stats: NA

Expectations have always been high for Jameson Taillon ever since he was taken second overall in the 2010 draft behind only Bryce Harper. Taillon seemed like he would be in the majors in 2014 before he was hit by Tommy John surgery and has since been slowed down by a continuous string of injuries. He earlier this season underwent surgery to fix an inguinal hernia and was shut down without having thrown one pitch in 2015.

When healthy, there is no doubt that Taillon has one of the best repertoires in all of baseball. He has two above average pitches: a fastball that he can throw between 93-96 mph and a fantastic 12-6 curveball that he is steadily gaining better control over. His changeup could one day be a plus pitch like his curveball and fastball, but it needs some more improving. His control is steady, but could use some overall improvement.

He is still only 23-years-old and could potentially be healthy by the start of next season. If he does appear to be healthy then, fantasy owners can expect him to be in the rotation by the middle of the season. He would be an elite option for most fantasy teams as he has the ceiling of a top two pitcher who will likely be the best number three pitcher in all of baseball behind Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow.

Steven Okert (RP, SF, Triple-A)

Stats: 61.0 IP, 3.84 ERA, 4.34 FIP, 10.18 K/9, 4.28 BB/9, 1.03 HR/9

The Giants farm system is full of young pitchers with a lot of potential who struggle with command, and that story remains much of the same with Steven Okert. Okert is a left-handed relief pitcher who has struggled at times with command, but has all of the stuff required to be a great set-up arm. He is a big left-hander standing at 6’3”, 210 lbs with a side-arm delivery that makes him very difficult to get a read on.

Okert is really only a two-pitch pitcher which will keep him in the role of a relief-pitcher. He has a great fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach 97 mph on occasion. His slider is his primary outpitch that ranges from 84-87 mph and does a great job with his wacky delivery of throwing off both lefties and righties. He also has a changeup that he will occasionally throw, but it is really subpar and does not have much potential to be a great pitch.

Fantasy owners in deep leagues might consider adding Okert at the start of next season, but he doesn’t have much value in most leagues. For those fantasy owners in deep leagues who would have value for a guy like Okert, he has a ceiling of a guy like Kevin Siegrist. He should be up with the Giants at the start of next season after spending the entirety of 2015 with Triple-A.

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