Matt Harvey Gets Opening Day Start
And your Mets Opening Day starting pitcher is — Matt Harvey.
“Flip a coin,” David Wright said, according to ESPN New York. “You could go with anybody and there would be no argument.”
Very true. I thought Jacob deGrom would get the start, as he was the leader of the rotation in 2015. But when it comes right down to it, Harvey is the true ace of the staff.
“It’s a huge honor,” Harvey said. “Looking around the locker room, looking at this corner, obviously Terry (Collins) could have announced anybody. So for me getting the nod, it’s a huge honor. It’s all about how we start and come out. I definitely feel a year after surgery I’m definitely 100% and happy about the honor and definitely ready for the battle.”
He will face the Royals in Kansas City, a schedule made before anyone even dreamed the two teams would face off in the World Series.
“It’s kind of interesting how the schedule worked out with that,” Harvey said. “It’s going to be a fun time. I think we’re all excited.”
Of course, the last time we saw Matt Harvey on the hill in KC, he contributed to the Mets loss in Game 5, after successfully arguing himself back into the game for what would be a fateful ninth inning.
Harvey again. “I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere, obviously, going to Kansas City. Playing against them, it’s going to bring back a lot of memories, but it’s also going to bring back a lot of fire.”
Hopefully, having to witness the Royals raising their World Series banner and watching them get their rings will help spur the Mets to a repeat World Series performance this season, only with a very different outcome.